Niagara Falls' Thundering Waters Awesome as Ever
Not the Highest or the Largest but Niagara's Thunder Awes Millions
Oct 18, 2009
Niagara Falls is the most significant waterfall carved by the advancing and receding glaciers of the last ice age that formed the Niagara Escarpment. Niagara Falls is produced by the cascading waters of the Niagara River over the Escarpment.
Niagara Falls is technically no longer situated on the Niagara Escarpment. It used to be part of the Escarpment when it was situated near in Queenston, but that was over 12,000 years ago.
Erosion Shapes Niagara Falls
Since then Niagara Falls has moved 11 kilometres (seven miles) southerly to its present location as a result of erosion. The force of the Falls created a gorge seven miles long. The Falls eroded at a rate of one metre per year (three and half feet) until the early 1950s. Since then the rate has slowed to 3 centimetres a year because of a major water diversion for the Adam Beck #2 Generating Station and the building of an international control work. As a result the flow of water was spread over more evenly across the crest line of the Falls and reduced stress which causes erosion.
Niagara Falls a Wonder to Behold
Even though it is not listed as one of the seven wonders of nature, the combination of height, width and volume make Niagara a wonder to behold. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls is 52 metres tall (170 feet). The American Falls at its tallest point is 34 metres (110 ft). The crest line of the Horseshoe Falls is 670 metres (2, 200 ft).The American Falls' crest line is 260 metres (850 feet).
The combined crestline of the Horseshoe Falls and American Falls (3,050 ft or 930 metres) is as wide as the Angel Falls in Venezuela, the tallest water in the world (3,212 ft or 979 m) high) is long. Angel Falls is 15 times higher than Niagara, but it isa relatively slender, whisp of a waterfall. By comparison the volume of water pouring over the Horseshoe Falls is a staggering 168,000 cubic metres (6 million cubic feet) per minute.
The Falls Attracts Tourists and Attention Seekers
From about the 1880s Niagara Falls has attracted attention seekers and quick buck artists. According to William Gillard and Thomas Tooke in their book The Niagara Escarpment: From Tobermory to Niagara Falls (University of Toronto Press, 1975): "Taverns, museums and shops lined the river bank, and con-artists of every hue tried to bilk, sightseers. Beginning in mid-century stunters of all kinds vied to perform daring deeds at the Falls."
Twain and Dickens Among the Many Notables who Have Visited the Falls
Millions of people visit Niagara Falls each each year. The Niagara Parks Commission lists such notables as Mark Twain and Charles Dickens as visitors to Niagara Falls.
"Niagara Falls is a most enjoyable place of resort. The hotels are excellent, and the prices not at all exorbitant. " said Mark Twain of his visit to Niagara."At length we alighted: and then for the first time, I heard the mighty rush of water, and felt the ground tremble underneath my feet." said Dickens.
“Free Niagara!”
According to the Niagara Frontier State Parks and Recreation Commission, "Free Niagara" was the rallying cry of people like 19th century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and artist Frederick Church who wanted to free Niagara from the "clutches of vulgar commercialism" and return it to its natural state.
Niagara Falls Today
Under the management of the Niagara Park Commission on the Canadian side and the Niagara Frontier State Parks and Recreation Commission on the U.S. side, the immediate area around Niagara Falls has been rescued from the past indignities.
But if it is the carnival atmosphere you seek there are plenty of attractions that fit the bill from the museums of Clifton Hill to the gambling casinos.
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