Awesome Natural Beauty "Niagara Falls"

A massive beauty of nature gifted by God is "Niagara Water Falls". It is far more than a natural phenomenon and a world class sightseeing destination filled with adventure and excitement for everyone. The thriving night life offered by the natural beauty grabs people of all ages.The Niagara Falls honeymoon and family activities like the Maid of the Mist tour and Marine land are long-time traditions, while new Niagara attractions abound.The popular Falls view Casino has made Niagara Falls a must-visit Canadian destination, and an array of Niagara accommodations -from charming to luxe-offer visitors an ideal retreat. A growing gourmet food and wine scene, drawing upon nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyards, offers everything from out-of-the-way restaurant gems to popular Falls view dining.
For more details log on to www.niagarafallstourism.com





It is stated in www.wikimapia.org about Niagara Falls that

Niagara Falls (43°4′54.68″N, 79°4′19.5″W) is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River in eastern North America, on the border between the United States and Canada. Niagara Falls comprises three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide. With more than 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falling over the crestline every minute. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America and possibly the best-known in the world.

Niagara Falls is renowned for its beauty, and is both a valuable source of hydroelectric power and a challenging project for environmental preservation. A popular tourist site for over a century, the natural wonder is shared between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario.


The site http://www.niagarafallslive.com gives the complete fact about the Niagara Falls.It is discussed below

A Brief History of the Falls

Information below graciously provided courtesy of  Niagara Parks Ice Age History of the Niagara River and Whirlpool Rapids The Niagara River, as is the entire Great Lakes Basin of which the river is an integral part, is a legacy of the last Ice Age. 18,000 years ago southern Ontario was covered by ice sheets 2-3 kilometers thick. As they advanced southward the ice sheets gouged out the basins of the Great Lakes. Then as they melted northward for the last time they released vast quantities of meltwater into these basins. Our water is "fossil water"; less than one percent of it is renewable on an annual basis, the rest leftover from the ice sheets. The Niagara Peninsula became free of the ice about 12,500 years ago. As the ice retreated northward, its meltwaters began to flow down through what became Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, down to the St. Lawrence River, and, finally, down to the sea. There were originally 5 spillways from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Eventually these were reduced to one, the original Niagara Falls, at Queenston-Lewiston. From here the Falls began its steady erosion through the bedrock. However, about 10,500 years ago, through an interplay of geological effects including alternating retreats and re-advances of the ice, and rebounding of the land when released from the intense pressure of the ice (isostatic rebound), this process was interrupted. The glacial meltwaters were rerouted through northern Ontario, bypassing the southern route. For the next 5,000 years Lake Erie remained only half the size of today, the Niagara River was reduced to about 10% of its current flow, and a much-reduced Falls stalled in the area of the Niagara Glen. About 5,500 years ago the meltwaters were once again routed through southern Ontario, restoring the river and Falls to their full power. Then the Falls reached the Whirlpool. It was a brief and violent encounter, a geological moment lasting only weeks, maybe even only days. In this moment the Falls of the youthful Niagara River intersected an old riverbed, one that had been buried and sealed during the last Ice Age. The Falls turned into this buried gorge, tore out the glacial debris that filled it, and scoured the old river bottom clean. It was probably not a falls at all now but a huge, churning rapids. When it was all over it left behind a 90-degree turn in the river we know today as the Whirlpool, and North America's largest series of standing waves we know today as the Whirlpool Rapids. The Falls then re-established at about the area of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge upriver to our right, and resumed carving its way through solid rock to its present location.

Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border and both in the Province of Ontario

and the State of New York, Niagara Falls attracts some 12 Million tourists to her majestic

awesome beauty each year.

The Niagara is a fairly young river, only 12,000 years old!, a microsecond in geological time. The

Niagara Escarpment, which was created by erosion is much older. The glaciers pressed down on

the land during the last ice age and laid down layers of sediment, then the slow process of erosion

of ice and water ate at the surface of the escarpment

.

The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest

falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron,

Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over

the falls.

At the bottom of the falls, the water travels 15 miles over many gorges until it reaches the fifth

Great Lake-Ontario. The land between the lakes does not slope at an even grade, but forms a

spectacular drop approximately the same height as a 20 story building and this is known as the

"Niagara Escarpment" Two billion years ago it was buried under a blanket of ice.

As the years past, the process of erosion took place, (and still does) five distinct 'gorges' were

formed-Lewiston Brange Gorge, Old Narrow Gorge, Upper & Lower Great Gorges and the

Whirlpool Narrow Gorge.

Approximately 500 years ago the river encountered an obstacle that caused it to 'split into two

channels', thus Goat Island was formed named after John Stedman whose goat herds froze to

death in the winter of 1780). This was the original sediment left from a vanished Lake Tonawanda

(an Indian name).

On the eastern part of the island, the American Falls took shape, the Horseshoe Falls, is on the

western side, where the river angles some 90 degrees.

The water flow on the American side of the falls is much less in strength because of Goat Island,

whereas Horseshoe Falls has no obstruction to divert it.

It should be noted that a third much narrower falls exists. Over the years these falls have been

called at different times; Luna Falls, Iris Falls and is currently named Bridal Veil Falls.

Man has not been able to completely control the flow of the water over the falls, even modern

engineers have tried. Much of the water today is fed through underground channels and pipes to

nearby hydro electric power stations.

The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing,  However, the falling

water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river.

This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet. If the Winter is cold for

long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what

is known as the "ice bridge".  This ice bridge can extend for several miles

down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids.

Until 1912,visitors were allowed to actually walk out on the ice bridge and

view the Falls from below. February 24th of 1888 the local newspaper

reported that at least 20,000 people watched or tobogganed on the ice.

Shanties selling liquor, photographs and curiosities abounded. On February

4th 1912 the ice bridge broke up and three tourists lives were lost.

There can also be a great deal of  "mini-icebergs" which flow down the

Niagara River from frozen Lake Erie. The flow of ice has been reduced

considerably by the yearly installation of the "ice-boom" on Lake Erie. The

ice-boom is a long floating chain (2miles- 3.2 KM) of steel floats strung across

the Niagara River from Buffalo New York to Fort Erie Ontario.

It is set in place during the month of December and  removed during the

month of March or April. It is maintained by the New York State Power

Authority. The ice boom helps prevent the ice from clogging the river and most

importantly the hydroelectric companies water intakes.

HOWEVER.... The flow of water was stopped completely over both falls

on March 29th 1848 due to an ice jam in the upper river for several hours. This

is the only known time to have occurred. The Falls did not actually freeze

over, but the flow was stopped to the point where people actually walked out

and recovered artifacts from the riverbed!

Interesting facts about Niagara Falls

The flow over the American Falls was stopped completely for several months in 1969. The idea was to determine the feasibility of removing the large amount of loose rock from the base of the falls to enhance it's appearance. In the end the final decision was that the expense would be too great. The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra" meaning "the strait" There is an international boundary between the United States and Canada. Before the invention of film, tourists would sketch pictures of the Falls. The flow was also halted over both falls on March 30th 1848 due to an ice jam in the upper river.

The movies Niagara and Superman were filmed in part at the Falls. In the past ten years, two daredevils lost their lives trying to conquer Niagara. In the evenings, intense spotlights bathe the falls with different shades of color. The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a 63 year old female schoolteacher. High wire tightrope acts used to be performed across the river. Most notably was "Blondin" who once actually carried his manager across on his back, stopping midway to rest ! The Falls make a tremendous sound as the water goes over and lands at the bottom. Twenty percent of the worlds freshwater lies in the Great Lakes, and most flows over Niagara Falls.



Power Stations at Niagara Falls
The details provided in the site http://expert-eyes.org/niagara.html

The first of the generating station on Canadian side of Niagara river was built in 1905 by the Ontario Power Company. (A small generating station had started operation on the American side of the Niagara as back as in 1882). This station with nine units is now being operated by the Ontario Hydro.* Ontario Hydro's predecessor, the Hydro-electric Power Commission, built the second station on the Niagara with ten generating units. These units, situated ten km down stream from the Falls, were commissioned in 1922. The station, which was for many years the largest in the World, has been carefully maintained. Its capacity was raised from 400 MW to 470 MW through installation of more efficient generating equipment. A 13 km canal was built from Welland River to the station's fore bay to provide sufficient flow. Another 16 units were set up near to that in 1954-58 period. Water was diverted for these units from upstream of Niagara Falls through twin nine kilometre long tunnels built under the City of Niagara Falls. The tailrace water flows back into the river downstream of the Falls. Together the three stations produce, on an average, about 12 billion units of energy a year. The last two are named after Sir Adam Beck. The older units at Niagara (built by Ontario Power) were characterised by their comparatively larger size.

There are separate transformers for each phase, which are cylindrical and several metres high. They are now getting replaced with sleek and more efficient generating units. According to engineers of Ontario Hydro, efficiencies could be improved by 15 per cent. There are also plans to construct a fourth generating station. This would be built almost entirely underground, below the Niagara city, with minimal disruption to residents and tourists. Ontario Hydro is an international partner in conserving Niagara Falls as a scenic tourist destination by maintaining the flow of water over the falls in accordance with a treaty signed in 1950. As per terms of the treaty, water flow is regulated to ensure that at least 100000 cubic feet flows over the 675 metre wide Horseshoe Falls (height 52 metres) and the 320 metre American Falls during day light hours of the tourist season (May to October). A flow of at least 50000 cubic feet is to be ensured at night and during the winter. The flow is managed using a river control structure that extends half way across the river from the Canadian shore above the Falls. This has 18 gates that open and close to regulate the flow of water or ice.





It spreads water over various parts of the Falls to enhance the view. In winter, the treaty requires Ontario Hydro and the New York Power Authority (which has its generating units on the other side of the river) to manage the ice formation. If ragged ice packs build up over the river, that could damage the facilities along the river.

From the site www.funonthenet.in its given that
American side

From the U.S. side, the American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Park observation tower and a boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by foot and automobile traffic by bridge above the American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. Also on Goat Island are the Three Sisters Islands, the Power Portal where a huge statue of Nikola Tesla can be seen, and a walking path which enables views of the rapids, the Niagara River, the gorge, and all of the Falls. Most of these attractions lie within the Niagara Falls State Park.

The Niagara Scenic Trolley offers guided trips along the American Falls and around Goat Island. Panoramic and aerial views of the falls can also be viewed from the Flight of Angels helium balloon ride, or by helicopter. The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center showcases the natural and local history of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Gorge. A casino and luxury hotel was opened in Niagara Falls, New York, by the Seneca Indian tribe. The Seneca Niagara Casino occupies the former Niagara Falls Convention Center. The new hotel is the first addition to the city's skyline since completion of the United Way office building in the twenties.

Canadian side

On the Canadian side, Queen Victoria Park features manicured gardens, platforms offering spectacular views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls, and underground walkways leading into observation rooms which yield the illusion of being within the falling waters. The observation deck of the nearby Skylon Tower offers the highest overhead view of the Falls, and in the opposite direction gives views as far as distant Toronto. Along with the Minolta Tower (formerly the Seagrams Tower, currently the Konica Minolta Tower), it is one of two towers in Canada with a view of the Falls.

Along the Niagara River, the Niagara River Recreational Trail runs the 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Erie to Fort George, and includes many historical sites from the War of 1812.