'Niagara Falls'

The Canadian Falls (Horseshoe Falls). The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is a Waterfall on the Niagara River, located mostly on the Canadian side of
Location	Niagara Falls (Ontario & New York )
Coordinates	43°04′48″N 79°04′16″W / 43.080, -79.071 (Niagara Falls)Coordinates: 43°04′48″N 79°04′16″W / 43.080, -79.071 (Niagara Falls)
Type	Segmented Block
Total height	167 ft (52 m)
Number of drops	3; Horseshoe Falls, American Falls & Bridal Veil Falls
Average flow rate	202,000 cu ft/s (5,720 m³/s)
Watercourse	Niagara River

Niagara Falls (French: les Chutes du Niagara) are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water often in the form of a Stream, flowing over an Erosion -resistant rock French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water often in the form of a Stream, flowing over an Erosion -resistant rock The Niagara River flows to the north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The Canada – United States border is the international Border between Canada and the United States. The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second largest country in total area. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York, 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are born in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time Niagara Falls is a Canadian City of 82184 residents Geography and Climate Niagara Falls Ontario Niagara Falls is a City in Niagara County, New York, United States.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border and American Falls on the United States side. Goat Island is a small uninhabited Island in the Niagara River, located in the middle of Niagara Falls between the Bridal Veil Falls and The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is a Waterfall on the Niagara River, located mostly on the Canadian side of Niagara American Fallsjpg|right|200px]] The American Falls is one of three Waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Luna Island is a very small uninhabited island in Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. The Niagara Escarpment is a long Escarpment, or Cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water fall over the crest line every minute in high flow,^[1] and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. CM3 redirects here If you were looking for the 3rd game in the Cooking Mama series abbreviated as CM3 see here. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America. ^[2]

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.

Contents 1 Characteristics and formation 2 History 3 Impact on industry and commerce 4 Preservation efforts 5 In entertainment and popular culture 5.1 Over The Falls 5.2 Movies and television 6 Tourism 6.1 American side 6.2 Canadian side 7 See also 8 References 9 Footnotes 10 External links

Characteristics and formation

Niagara Falls is divided into the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is a Waterfall on the Niagara River, located mostly on the Canadian side of Niagara American Fallsjpg|right|200px]] The American Falls is one of three Waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River The Horseshoe Falls drop about 173 feet (53 m). The American Falls drop about 70 feet (21 m) before reaching a jumble of fallen rocks that were deposited by a massive rock slide in 1954. The larger Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (792 m) wide, while the American Falls are 1,060 feet (323 m) wide. The volume of water approaching the falls during peak flow season is 202,000 cubic feet per second (5,720 m³/s). ^[3] By comparison Africa's spectacular Victoria Falls has over 15 million cubic feet (424,750 m³) of water falling over its crest line each minute during the peak of the wet season (250,000 cu ft/7,079 m³ per second). The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders is a Waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between CM3 redirects here If you were looking for the 3rd game in the Cooking Mama series abbreviated as CM3 see here. ^[4] Since the flow is a direct function of the Lake Erie water elevation, it typically peaks in late spring or early summer. Lake Erie (ˈɪəriː is the fourth largest Lake (by surface area of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally During the summer months, 100,000 cubic feet per second (2,832 m³/s) of water actually traverses the Falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls, while the balance is diverted to hydroelectric facilities. This is accomplished by employing a weir with movable gates upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. WEIR (1430 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format The Falls flow is further halved at night, and during the low tourist season in the winter, remains a flat 50,000 cubic feet per second (1,416 m³/s). Water diversion is regulated by the 1950 Niagara Treaty and is administered by the International Niagara Board of Control (IJC). ^[5] Viewpoints on the American shore generally are astride or behind the falls. The falls face directly toward the Canadian shore. Thus, the most complete views of Niagara Falls are available from the Canadian shoreline. It is about a two hour drive from Toronto.

The features that became the Niagara Falls were created by the Wisconsin glaciation, about 10,000 years ago. "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period The same forces also created the North American Great Lakes and the Niagara River. The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. All were dug by a continental ice sheet that drove through the area like a giant bulldozer, deepening some river channels to make lakes and damming others with debris. An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets ^[6] Scientists believe that there is an old valley, buried by glacial drift, at the approximate location of the present Welland Canal. In Geology, drift is transported rock debris overlying the solid Bedrock. The Welland Canal is a Ship canal that runs 42  km (270  Miles from Port Colborne Ontario on Lake Erie to Port

When the ice melted, the upper Great Lakes emptied into the Niagara River, which followed the rearranged topography across the Niagara Escarpment. The Niagara Escarpment is a long Escarpment, or Cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through In time, the river cut a gorge through the north facing cliff or cuesta. In Geography and Geology, a cliff is a significant vertical or near vertical rock exposure In Structural geology and Geomorphology, a cuesta (from Spanish: "slope" is a Ridge formed by gently tilted Sedimentary rock

The unusual rock formations did not erode evenly because of the interactions of three major rock formations. One rock formation was composed of erosion-resistant limestone and Lockport dolostone. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Dolomite (ˈdɒləmaɪt is the name of a Sedimentary Carbonate rock and a Mineral, both composed That hard layer of stone eroded more slowly than underlying materials. The aerial photo clearly shows the hard caprock, the Lockport Formation (Middle Silurian), which underlies the rapids above the falls and approximately the upper third of the high gorge wall. The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician period about 443

Immediately below the hard-rock formation, comprising about two thirds of the cliff, lay a weaker, softer, sloping Rochester Formation (Lower Silurian). The formation was composed mainly of shale, though it has some thin limestone layers. Shale (also called mudstone) is a fine-grained Sedimentary rock whose original constituents were Clay minerals or Muds It is characterized by It also contains ancient fossils. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. In time, the river eroded the soft layer that supported the hard layers, undercutting the hard cap rock. Eventually the process carved out the falls.

Submerged in the river in the lower valley, hidden from view, is the Queenston Formation (Upper Ordovician), which is composed of shales and fine sandstones. The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic era, and covers the time between 488 Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. All three formations were laid down in an ancient sea, and their differences of character derive from changing conditions within that sea. This article is about the body of water For other uses see SEA and Seas.

The original Niagara Falls were near the sites of present-day Queenston, Ontario, and Lewiston, New York, but erosion of their crest has caused the waterfalls to retreat several miles southward. The Village of Queenston is located 5 km north of Niagara Falls Ontario in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Lewiston is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Just upstream from the Falls' current location, Goat Island splits the course of the Niagara River, resulting in the separation of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls to the west from the American and Bridal Veil Falls to the east. Goat Island is a small uninhabited Island in the Niagara River, located in the middle of Niagara Falls between the Bridal Veil Falls and Although engineering has slowed erosion and recession in this century, the falls will eventually recede far enough to drain most of Lake Erie, the bottom of which is higher than the bottom of the falls. Lake Erie (ˈɪəriː is the fourth largest Lake (by surface area of the five Great Lakes, and the tenth largest globally Engineers are working to reduce the rate of erosion to postpone this event as long as possible.

History

The name "Niagara" (Iroquois Nation pronunciation IPA: /niːɑːˈɡɑːrɑː/^[7][8][9]) is said to originate from an Iroquois word "Onguiaahra" meaning "Thunder of Waters". The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse ^[10] The region's original inhabitants were the Ongiara, an Iroquois tribe named the Neutrals by French settlers, who found them helpful in mediating disputes with other tribes. The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario ^[11]

A number of figures have been suggested as first circulating an eyewitness description of Niagara Falls. Frenchman Samuel de Champlain visited the area as early as 1604 during his exploration of Canada, and members of his party reported to him the spectacular waterfalls, which he described in his journals. Samuel de Champlain (c 1575 - 25 December 1635) "The Father of New France " was a French navigator geographer cartographer Finnish-Swedish naturalist Pehr Kalm explored the area in the early 1700s and wrote of the experience. Pehr Kalm ( March 6 1716 - November 16 1779) (in Finland also known as Pietari Kalm and in some English-language translations The consensus honoree is Belgian Father Louis Hennepin, who observed and described the Falls in 1677, earlier than Kalm, after traveling with explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, thus bringing the Falls to the attention of Europeans. Father Louis Hennepin, OFM baptized Antoine, ( 12 May, 1626 &ndash c René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle ( November 22, 1643 &ndash March 19, 1687) was a French Further complicating matters, there is credible evidence that French Jesuit Reverend Paul Ragueneau visited the Falls some 35 years prior to Hennepin's visit, while working among the Huron First Nation in Canada. Paul Ragueneau, ( 18 March 1608 &ndash 3 September 1680) is known most notable as a Catholic Jesuit Missionary "Huron" redirects here For other uses see Huron (disambiguation. Jean de Brebeuf also may have visited the Falls, while spending time with the Neutral Nation. Saint Jean de Brébeuf ( 25 March 1593 &ndash 16 March 1649) was a Jesuit Missionary, Martyred in The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario ^[12]

During the 18th century tourism became popular, and by mid-century, it was the area's main industry. Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Jérôme visited with his bride in the early 19th century. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte French Prince King of Westphalia, 1st Prince of Montfort ( November 15, 1784 &ndash June 24, 1860 ^[13] In 1837 during the Caroline affair a rebel suppply ship, the "Caroline" was burned and sent over the Falls. The Caroline Affair was a series of events beginning in 1837 that strained relations between the United States and Britain. Demand for passage over the Niagara River led in 1848 to the building of a footbridge and then Charles Ellet's Niagara Suspension Bridge. This was supplanted by German-born John Augustus Roebling's Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge in 1855. John Augustus Roebling (born Johann August Röbling, June 12, 1806 in Mühlhausen - July 22, 1869) was a German-born After the American Civil War, the New York Central railroad publicized Niagara Falls as a focus of pleasure and honeymoon visits. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity was a Railroad operating in the Northeastern United States. With increased railroad traffic, in 1886, Leffert Buck replaced Roebling's wood and stone bridge with the predominantly steel bridge that still carries trains over the Niagara River today. The first steel archway bridge near the Falls was completed in 1897. Known today as the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, it carries vehicles, trains, and pedestrians between Canada (through Canadian Customs Border Control) and the U. The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, commonly called the Whirlpool Bridge and formerly known as the Lower Steel Arch Bridge until 1937 is a spandrel braced riveted two-hinged S. A. just below the Falls. In 1941 the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission completed the third current crossing in the immediate area of Niagara Falls with the Rainbow Bridge, carrying both pedestrian and vehicular traffic between the two countries and Canadian and U. The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls is an international steel Arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge and is a world-famous tourist site S. customs for each country.

After the First World War, tourism boomed again as automobiles made getting to the Falls much easier. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The story of Niagara Falls in the 20th century is largely that of efforts to harness the energy of the Falls for hydroelectric power, and to control the development on both sides that threaten the area's natural beauty. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water

Impact on industry and commerce

The enormous energy of Niagara Falls has long been recognized as a potential source of power. Niagara American Fallsjpg|right|200px]] The American Falls is one of three Waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. The first known effort to harness the waters was in 1759, when Daniel Joncaire built a small canal above the Falls to power his sawmill. Augustus and Peter Porter purchased this area and all of American Falls in 1805 from the New York state government, and enlarged the original canal to provide hydraulic power for their gristmill and tannery. In 1853, the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Mining Company was chartered, which eventually constructed the canals which would be used to generate electricity. In 1881, under the leadership of Jacob Schoellkopf, enough power was produced to send direct current to illuminate both the Falls themselves and nearby Niagara Falls village. Direct current ( DC) is the unidirectional flow of Electric charge.

When Nikola Tesla, for whom a memorial was later built at Niagara Falls, NY (USA), invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission, distant transfer of electricity became possible. There have already been discussions about Tesla's ethnicity on the talk page This article deals with the basic mathematics and principles of three-phase electricity An alternating current ( AC) is an Electric current whose direction reverses cyclically as opposed to Direct current, whose direction remains constant In 1883, the Niagara Falls Power Company, a descendant of Schoellkopf's firm, hired George Westinghouse to design a system to generate alternating current. George Westinghouse Jr ( 6 October 1846 &ndash 12 March 1914) was an American Entrepreneur and Engineer The world's first AC power generating and transmission plant was built at Ames, below Telluride, Colorado, by Westinghouse, Tesla and L. L. Nunn and proved effective by transmitting AC two miles at a loss of less than 5%. Four years later, by 1896, with financing from moguls like J.P. Morgan, John Jacob Astor IV, and the Vanderbilts, they had constructed giant underground conduits leading to turbines generating upwards of 100,000 horsepower (75 MW), and were sending power as far as Buffalo, twenty miles (32 km) away. John Pierpont Morgan ( April 17, 1837 &ndash March 31, 1913) was an American financier banker and art collector who John Jacob Astor IV ( July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American millionaire businessman real estate builder inventor writer This article details the family of Cornelius Vanderbilt For other uses see Vanderbilt (disambiguation. Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. Private companies on the Canadian side also began to harness the energy of the Falls. The Government of the province of Ontario, Canada eventually brought power transmission operations under public control in 1906, distributing Niagara's energy to various parts of the Canadian province. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Currently between 50% and 75% of the Niagara River's flow is diverted via four huge tunnels that arise far upstream from the waterfalls. The water then passes through hydroelectric turbines that supply power to nearby areas of the Canada and the USA before returning to the river well past the Falls. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water

The most powerful hydroelectric stations on the Niagara River are Sir Adam Beck 1 and 2 on the Canadian side, and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant and the Lewiston Pump Generating Plant on the American side. Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations are two hydro electric power stations in Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada. Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant is a hydroelectric Power plant in Lewiston NY near Niagara Falls NY All together, Niagara's generating stations can produce about 4. 4 GW of power. The watt (symbol W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one Joule of energy per Second. The engineer credited with design of the system is Edward Dean Adams. ^[14]

In August 2005 Ontario Power Generation, which is responsible for the Sir Adam Beck stations, announced plans to build a new 6½ mile (10. Ontario Power Generation (OPG is a Public company wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. 4 km) tunnel to tap water from farther up the Niagara river than is possible with the existing arrangement. The project is expected to be completed in 2009, and will increase Sir Adam Beck's output by about 182 MW (4. The watt (symbol W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one Joule of energy per Second. 2%).

Ships can bypass Niagara Falls by means of the Welland Canal, which was improved and incorporated into the Saint Lawrence Seaway in the 1960s. A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size The Welland Canal is a Ship canal that runs 42  km (270  Miles from Port Colborne Ontario on Lake Erie to Port The St Lawrence Seaway is the common name for a system of Canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes While the seaway diverted water traffic from nearby Buffalo and led to the demise of its steel and grain mills, other industries in the Niagara River valley flourished with the help of the electric power produced by the river until the 1970s. Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. Since then the region has declined economically.

The cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls, New York, USA are connected by three bridges: the Rainbow Bridge, just downriver from the Falls, which affords the closest view of the Falls and is open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians; the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, one mile (1. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls is an international steel Arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge and is a world-famous tourist site The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, commonly called the Whirlpool Bridge and formerly known as the Lower Steel Arch Bridge until 1937 is a spandrel braced riveted two-hinged 5 km) down from the Rainbow bridge and the oldest bridge over the Niagara river. The newest bridge, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, is located near the escarpment. Nearby Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport were named after the waterfall, as were Niagara University, countless local businesses, and even an asteroid. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is an airport located in the town of Cheektowaga in Erie County, New York. Niagara University is a Roman Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County New York ^[15]

Preservation efforts

Niagara Falls has long been a source of inspiration for explorers, travelers, artists, authors, filmmakers, residents and visitors, few of whom realize that the falls nearly were devoted exclusively to industrial and commercial use. Niagara Falls is a Canadian City of 82184 residents Geography and Climate Niagara Falls Ontario In the 1870s, sightseers had limited access to Niagara Falls and often had to pay merely for a glimpse, and industrialization threatened to carve up Goat Island to power expanding commercial development. Other industrial encroachments and lack of public access led to a conservation movement in the U. S. known as Free Niagara, led by such notables as Hudson River school artist Frederic Edwin Church, landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted, and architect Henry Hobson Richardson. Frederic Edwin Church ( May 4, 1826 &ndash April 7, 1900) was an American landscape painter born in Frederick Law Olmsted ( April 25, 1822 &ndash August 28, 1903) was an American landscape designer and father of American Henry Hobson Richardson ( September 29, 1838 &ndash April 27, 1886) was a prominent American Architect of the 19th Church approached Lord Dufferin, governor-general of Canada, with a proposal for international discussions on establishment of a public park. Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (21 June

Goat Island was one of the inspirations for the American side of the effort. William Dorsheimer, moved by the scene from the island, brought Olmsted to Buffalo in 1868 to design a city park system and helped promote Olmstead's career. William Dorsheimer ( February 5, 1832 Lyons, Wayne County New York – March 26, 1888 Savannah, Chatham Later, in 1879, the New York state legislature commissioned Olmsted and James T. Gardner to survey the falls and to create the single most important document in the Niagara preservation movement, a Special Report on the preservation of Niagara Falls. The report advocated for State purchase, restoration and preservation through public ownership of the scenic lands surrounding Niagara Falls. Restoring the former beauty of the falls was described in the report as a "sacred obligation to mankind. "^[16] In 1883, Governor Grover Cleveland drafted legislation authorizing acquisition of lands for a state reservation at Niagara and The Niagara Falls Association, a private citizens group founded in 1882, mounted a massive letter writing campaign and petition drive in support of the park. Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18 1837 June 24 1908 was both the twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States. Professor Charles Eliot Norton and Olmsted were among the leaders of the public campaign, while New York Governor Alonzo Cornell opposed. Charles Eliot Norton, (November 16 1827 - October 21 1908 was a leading American author social critic and professor of art Alonzo Barton Cornell ( January 22, 1832 October 15, 1904) was a New York politician and businessman who served as Governor

Preservationists' efforts were rewarded on April 30, 1885, when Governor David B. Hill signed legislation creating the Niagara Reservation, New York’s first state park. For other people with a similar name see David Hill David Bennett Hill ( August 29, 1843 Havana, then Chemung County New York state began to purchase land from developers, under the charter of the Niagara Reservation State Park. Niagara Falls State Park is located in the City of Niagara Falls New York in Niagara County. In the same year, the province of Ontario established the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park for the same purpose. On the Canadian side, the Niagara Parks Commission governs land usage along the entire course of the Niagara River, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The Niagara Parks Commission, or Niagara Parks for short is an agency of government of Ontario which maintains the Ontario shoreline of the Niagara River

In 1887, Olmsted and Calvert Vaux issued a supplemental report detailing plans to restore the falls. Calvert Vaux ( December 20, 1824 – November 19, 1895) was an architect and landscape designer Their intent was "to restore and conserve the natural surroundings of the Falls of Niagara, rather than to attempt to add anything thereto," and the report anticipated fundamental questions. How would preservationists provide access without destroying the beauty of the falls? How would they restore natural landscapes damaged by man? They planned a park with scenic roadways, paths and a few shelters designed to protect the landscape while allowing large numbers of visitors to enjoy the falls. ^[17] Commemorative statues, shops, restaurants, and a 1959 glass and metal observation tower were added later. Preservationists continue to strive to strike a balance between Olmsted’s idyllic vision, and the realities of administering a popular scenic attraction. ^[18]

Preservation efforts continued well into the 20th century. J. Horace McFarland, the Sierra Club, and the Appalachian Mountain Club persuaded the United States Congress in 1906 to enact legislation to preserve the Falls by regulating the waters of Niagara River. Mission statement To explore enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources To educate and The Appalachian Mountain Club ( AMC) is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses ^[19] The act sought, in cooperation with the Canadian government, to restrict diversion of water, and a treaty resulted in 1909 that limited the total amount of water diverted from the Falls by both nations to approximately 56,000 cubic feet (1,600 m³) per second. That limitation remained in effect until 1950. ^[20]

Erosion control efforts also have been important. Underwater weirs redirect the most damaging currents, and top of the falls has been strengthened. WEIR (1430 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format In June 1969, for example, the Niagara River was entirely diverted from the American Falls for several months through construction of a temporary rock and earth dam (clearly visible in the photo at right). ^[21] While the Horseshoe Falls absorbed the extra flow, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studied the riverbed and mechanically bolted faults which would otherwise have hastened the retreat of the American Falls. The United States Army Corps of Engineers ( USACE) is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 34600 Civilian and 650 Military personnel A plan to remove the huge mound of talus deposited in 1954 was abandoned owing to cost, and in November 1969, the temporary dam was dynamited, restoring flow to the American Falls. Scree, also called talus and detritic cone, is a term given to broken rock that appears at the bottom of Crags mountain Cliffs or Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of Nitroglycerin, initially using Diatomaceous earth (kieselgur US Spelling kieselguhr Even after these undertakings, Luna Island, the small piece of land between the main waterfall and the Bridal Veil, remained off limits to the public for years owing to fears that it was unstable and could collapse into the gorge at any time. Luna Island is a very small uninhabited island in Niagara Falls, New York.

Not far away from the falls, commercial interests have prevailed. Recent construction of several tall buildings (most of them hotels) on the Canadian side resulted in a remarkable alteration and urbanisation of the landscape. It has also caused the airflow over the Falls to change direction. ^[22] The result is that the viewing areas on the Canadian side are now often obscured by a layer of mist.

In entertainment and popular culture

Over The Falls

In October 1829, Sam Patch, who called himself "a total idiot" jumped from a high tower into the gorge below the falls and survived; this began a long tradition of daredevils trying to go over the Falls. Bobby Leach (1858 in Cornwall England &ndash April 26, 1926) was the second person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel after Annie Taylor Sam Patch (1807-1829 known as "The Yankee Leaper" was the first famous U In 1901, 63-year-old school teacher Annie Edson Taylor was the first person to go over the Falls in a barrel as a publicity stunt; she survived, bleeding, but virtually unharmed. Annie Edson Taylor ( October 24 ? 1838 – April 29 1921) became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a Barrel on A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container traditionally made of Wood Staves and bound with Iron Hoops The Soon after exiting the barrel, she said, "No one should ever try that again. " Unfortunately, the fortune she hoped to make from a later lecture tour was never realized, as her manager was a con-man who took everything she owned. (Legend says that a small kitten rode in the barrel with her, but this seems to have been a whimsical myth. She in fact sent the cat over the falls in a barrel first. Although the cat did not survive, Taylor went on with the stunt. Still, when she posed with the barrel afterwards, a kitten sat placidly on top of it. ) Since Taylor's historic ride, 14 other people have intentionally gone over the Falls in or on a device, despite her advice. Some have survived unharmed, but others have drowned or been severely injured. Survivors of such stunts face charges and stiff fines, as it is illegal, on both sides of the border, to attempt to go over the Falls.

In 1918, there was a near disaster when a barge working up-river broke its tow, and almost plunged over the falls. Fortunately, the vessel grounded on rocks just short of the falls. ^[23]

Other daredevils have made crossing the Falls their goal, starting with the successful passage by Jean François "Blondin" Gravelet in 1859. Jean François Gravelet-Blondin ( 28 February 1824 &ndash 19 February 1897) French tight-rope walker and acrobat These tightrope walkers drew huge crowds to witness their exploits. Their wires ran across the gorge, near the current Rainbow Bridge, not over the waterfall itself. Among the many was Ontario's William Hunt, who billed himself as "Signor Fanini" and competed with Blondin in performing outrageous stunts over the gorge. Englishman Captain Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the English Channel, drowned in 1883 after unsuccessfully trying to swim across the whirlpools and rapids downriver from the Falls with nine other people. This article is about the first man to swim the English Channel unaided Matthew Webb. A whirlpool is a swirling body of Water usually produced by ocean Tides. Two others drowned with him, and the other seven gave up before finishing their course.

In what some called the "Miracle at Niagara", Roger Woodward, a seven-year-old American boy, was swept over the Horseshoe Falls protected only by a life vest on July 9, 1960, as two tourists pulled his 17-year-old sister Deanne from the river only 20 feet (6 m) from the lip of the Horseshoe Falls at Goat Island. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[24] Minutes later, Roger was plucked from the roiling plunge pool beneath the Horseshoe Falls after grabbing a life ring thrown to him by the crew of the Maid of the Mist boat. The Maid of the Mist is a Boat tour of Niagara Falls. (The actual boats used are each named Maid of the Mist, followed by a different His survival, which no one thought possible, made news throughout the world.

On July 2, 1984, Canadian Karel Soucek from Hamilton, Ontario successfully plunged over the Horseshoe Falls in a barrel with only minor injuries. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Karel Soucek, born in Czechoslovakia c 1947 died January 20, 1985 in Houston Texas, was a Canadian professional stuntperson Hamilton (ˈhæməltən ( 2006 population 504559 UA population 647634 CMA population Soucek was fined $500 for performing the stunt without a license. In 1985, he was fatally injured while attempting to re-create the Niagara drop at the Houston Astrodome. For the aeronautical use see Astrodome (aviation Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome His aim was to climb into a barrel hoisted to the rafters of the Astrodome and to drop 180 feet (55 m) into a water tank on the floor. After his barrel released prematurely, it hit the side of the tank and he died the next day from his injuries. ^[25]

In August 1985, Steve Trotter, an aspiring stunt man from Rhode Island, became the youngest person ever (age 22) and the first American in 25 years to go over the Falls in a barrel. Steve Trotter (born 1963 in Barrington Rhode Island) is a daredevil who has twice gone over Niagara Falls in a Barrel, and performed other Ten years later, Trotter went over the Falls again, becoming the second person to go over the Falls twice and survive. It was also the second-ever "duo"; Lori Martin joined Trotter for the barrel ride over the Falls. They survived the fall but their barrel became stuck at the bottom of the falls, requiring a rescue. They became the first individuals to serve jail time for going over Niagara Falls. The first two-person trip over the brink goes to Jeffrey Petkovich (25) and Peter Debernardi (42) on September 27, 1989. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) ^[26]

On September 27, 1993 John "David" Munday, of Caistor Centre, Ontario, became the first person to survive going over the falls twice. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) ^[27]

Kirk Jones of Canton, Michigan became the first known person to survive a plunge over the Horseshoe Falls without a flotation device on October 20, 2003. The Charter Township of Canton, usually referred to as Canton, is a Charter township of Wayne County in the U Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. While it is still not known whether Jones was determined to commit suicide, he survived the 16-story fall with only battered ribs, scrapes, and bruises. ^[28]

A newspaper account in the late 19^th century does cite a bulldog believed to have successfully, though accidentally, endured the passage. All "over the Falls" survivors have passed over the Horseshoe Falls, where there are fewer boulders, and the current can "throw" a person farther away from the brink to avoid them.

A museum houses most of the crafts that were used to go over the falls.

Movies and television

Already a huge tourist attraction and favorite spot for honeymooners, Niagara Falls visits rose sharply in 1953 after the release of Niagara, a movie starring Marilyn Monroe. Niagara ( 1953) is a dramatic thriller, Film noir directed by Henry Hathaway. Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1 1926 &ndash August 5 1962 baptized Norma Later in the 20th century, the Falls was a featured location in 1980s movie Superman II, and was itself the subject of a popular IMAX movie. Superman II is the 1980 Sequel to the 1978 Superhero film Superman. IMAX (short for Image MAXimum is a Film format created by Canada 's IMAX Corporation that has the capacity to display images of far greater size and Much of the episode Return of the Technodrome in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series take place near the Niagara Falls and its hydroelectric plant. The following is an episode list for the animated television series '''''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''''' which premiered in 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (known as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in the United Kingdom, Ireland and some other European countries Illusionist David Copperfield performed a trick in which he appeared to travel over the Horseshoe Falls in 1990. David Copperfield (born David Seth Kotkin; September 16, 1956) is a magician and illusionist The Falls, or more particularly, the tourist-supported complex near the Falls, was the setting of the short-lived Canadian television show Wonderfalls in early 2004. With the recent influx of more international tourists, annual visits exceeded 14 million in 2003. More recently, location footage of the Falls was shot in October 2006 to portray "World's End" of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End is a 2007 Adventure film, the third film in the ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' series. ^[29] The movie Canadian Bacon takes place in the Niagara area. In 2007,Chuck & Larry have several scenes showing the falls. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (aka Chuck and Larry) is a 2007 Comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring

Tourism

Peak numbers of visitors occur in the summertime, when Niagara Falls are both a daytime and evening attraction. From the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the Falls for several hours after dark (until midnight). The number of visitors in 2008 is expected to total 20 million and by 2009, the annual rate is expected to top 28 million tourists a year. ^[30] The oldest and best known tourist attraction at Niagara Falls is the Maid of the Mist boat cruise, named for an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character, which has carried passengers into the whirlpools beneath the Falls since 1846. The Maid of the Mist is a Boat tour of Niagara Falls. (The actual boats used are each named Maid of the Mist, followed by a different Cruise boats operate from boat docks on both sides of the falls. ^[31][32]

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 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. Goat Island is a small uninhabited Island in the Niagara River, located in the middle of Niagara Falls between the Bridal Veil Falls and From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. The Cave of the Winds was a natural Cave behind Bridal Veil Falls at the Niagara Falls. An elevator or lift is a Transport device used to move people or goods vertically from one floor to another The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara 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. Niagara Falls State Park is located in the City of Niagara Falls New York in Niagara County. ^[33]

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. ^[33][34]

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. The Skylon Tower, in Niagara Falls Ontario, is the tallest structure that overlooks both the American Falls, New York and the larger Horseshoe Falls Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario 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. The Konica Minolta Tower Centre, opened in 1962 is located in the Fallsview district of Niagara Falls Ontario and was the first of the modern observation towers ^[35]

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. Fort Erie National Historic Site was the first British fort to be constructed as part of a network developed after the Seven Years' War (or in the United States For other uses see Fort George Fort George National Historic Site is a historic military structure at The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies ^[36]

The Whirlpool Aero Car, built in 1916 from a design by Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres y Quevedo, is a cable car which takes passengers over the whirlpool on the Canadian side. The Whirlpool Aero Car or Spanish Aero Car is a cable car located in Niagara Falls Ontario which transports passengers over a section of the Niagara Leonardo Torres y Quevedo ( 28 December 1852 &ndash 18 December 1936) usually Leonardo Torres Quevedo in Spanish -speaking An aerial tramway is a type of Aerial lift in which a cabin is suspended from a cable and is pulled by another cable The Journey Behind the Falls - accessible by elevators from the street level entrance - consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. Journey Behind the Falls (known until the early 1990s as the Scenic Tunnels) is an attraction in Niagara Falls Ontario located in the Table Rock Center ^[37][38]

There are two casinos on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. A casino is in the modern sense of the word a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of Gambling activities The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls Ontario Canada opened publicly on June 10 2004. Casino Niagara is a commercial Casino located in Niagara Falls Ontario Canada. The former is situated in the Fallsview Tourist Area, alongside many of the area's hotels, whilst the latter is adjacent to Clifton Hill, a major tourist promenade. The Fallsview Tourist Area in Niagara Falls Ontario is the main tourist attraction surrounding the Falls Clifton Hill is the major tourist promenade in Niagara Falls Ontario. ^[39]

American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls from Maid of the Mist	The Horseshoe from Helicopter	View of the Horseshoe from a Fallsview hotel room	Niagara Falls rapids (White water walk, Canadian side)
The popular Clifton Hill on the Canadian side lit up at night	View from the Rainbow Bridge	Maid of the Mist leisure boat in front of the Falls	Horseshoe Falls viewed from Maid of the Mist
Tourist spot at the bottom of the Falls	A portal looking out on the back of Horseshoe Falls	Niagara Falls in Winter

See also

• Niagara Falls, Ontario
• Niagara Falls, New York
• Niagara Scow
• Incline railways at Niagara Falls
• Ontario Hydro
• Table Rock, Niagara Falls
• Welland Canal
• Whirlpool Aero Car

References

• The Earth, Tarbuck and Lutgens, 1987
• Encyclopedia Britannica
• National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States
• "Niagara Falls at Thunder Alley"
• "Hydro One Historical Timeline"
• Niagara Falls

Footnotes

External links

• Niagara Falls travel guide from Wikitravel
• Niagara Falls - History of Power Historical and engineering data on the U. Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. S. and Canadian power stations
• Geology of Niagara Falls
• Panorama Niagara Falls Panorama found at Queen's Park Toronto.
• Niagara Falls Guidebooks from the 19th Century Digitally-recreated 19th century guidebooks
• Historic Niagara Digital Collections
• US Army Corps of Engineers The US Army Corps of Engineers completely blocked the flow of water over the American Falls in 1969.

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