Learn more about Niagara! Here is some information that may make your trip more enjoyable.

Background Information

Niagara Falls is located in both the continental United States of America and Canada. Specifically, it is in the province of Toronto and the city of Buffalo, both with cities that have identical names at the site of the waterfall. The two cities are called Niagara Falls, though one resides in Canada and one in Buffalo, New York.

There are generally three falls that make up the famous landmark: the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in the American border, and Horseshoe Falls in Canadian land. The only thing that separates the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls is a small piece of land called Luna Island.

The American Falls pales in comparison to the Horseshoe Falls, but still is regarded one of the most beautiful landmarks in the world. On average, the falls are about seventy to one-hundred feet, because of the gigantic boulders at its base. Though only ten percent of all the water flowing down the Niagara River goes to the American Falls, it is something one has to see before their death.
The Horseshoe Falls is the more iconic view of Niagara Falls, to this day. Ninety percent of all the water flowing in the Niagara River falls down Horseshoe Falls, which has a drop of about 170 feet, or 54 meters. It also is 2200 feet wide, or 675 meters. During its peak season, which is in September to October, 100,000 cubic feet of water fall down every second. This causes a thunderous noise to be heard when anywhere in the vicinity of the pounding liquids. However, it averages about half of its peak season at normal times. These waterfalls are considered to be one of the most beautiful landmarks in the twenty-first century.

Miscellaneous Facts

At one point in Niagara’s history, the flow of wateropped completely for a few hours due to an ice jam in the upper river. This event took place on March 29, 1848, and at this point in time, people were able to walk on the riverbed and recover artifacts from the mud. The layers of rock underneath the water’s rushing surface contain many ancient fossils that are precious to any collector.
The Falls also serve as a large source of hydroelectric energy, which produce enough electricity to power southern Ontario and Western New York. The power stations in Canada are named Sir Adam Beck 1 and 2, while the ones in America are called the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant and the Lewiston Pump Generating Plant. They both together produce around 4.4 gigawatts of power, enough to fill the needs of some parts of Ontario and New York.

The Niagara Gorge has also been home to many stunts performed by funambulists (tight-rope walkers) and daredevils. Blondin, a French acrobat who walked the length of the gorge many times while multitasking, performed the most famous of these stunts. For example, he once stopped in the middle of his journey, sat down, and proceeded to cook an omelet. He was also known to have carried his manager, Harry Colcord, on his back while walking. Colcord was about 150 pounds, which was a staggering weight to carry during his hike.

Another popular stunt was to drop down the height of the falls in a barrel. Many perished while they attempted to do so, but eventually someone was able to do it on October 24, 1901. Her name was Annie Edison Taylor, a school teacher from Bay City, Michigan. She was reported to have said, “No one should ever try that again,” soon after she walked away from the barrel. Since then, many have tried to go over in differing devices. Some have died, and some have survived. Those that walked out alive were fined, as it is illegal to try to attempt to go over the Falls.

Geographical History of the Falls

Though the Falls at Niagara are historically shown to be about 12,000 years old, its origins can be tracked down to much farther back in time.

In the past, the universally known continents around the globe were all part of the same. This landmass is well known by the name of Pangaea. However, Pangaea began to separate, and as it split apart, separate bodies took a myriad of the original landscape. The continent that became North America took the Taconic Mountain Range. All the peaks on the eastern coast of USA and Canada were descended from this epic range, and though the landmark has ceased to exist, the materials that made it up were eroded to eventually become the Catskill, Appalachian, and Allegheny mountains. Fortunately, the rocks that were broken off from the mountains had contributed to the formation of the fascinating waterfall that we know today.

Rivers that flowed from the Taconics carried mineral-rich sediments and rocks with them down to the west to be deposited at the base of the mountains. These deposits were layered on top of each other over time. There are three accepted tiers, the first of which is the “red beds,” which were soft queenston shales that bore heavy amounts of iron. The second tier was made of sandstones and shales, with random levels of limestone distributed throughout the layer. The last level was made up of a material called dolostone, which is better known as Lockport Dolomite. The outer edge of this level formed into a huge semicircle shaped ridge that comprises much of the Niagara Escarpment.
This formation would remain fairly unchanged until more recent times, in a historical perspective. Recent, in this case, means about twenty million years ago, when there was a sudden temperature drop throughout the world. This caused a chain of actions that eventually resulted in the formation of the falls.

Large glaciers started to move north into the Niagara Region during this time period. Four glaciations occurred during this time, where the most major carved out the Great Lakes basins. The last of the glaciers melted away from Niagara, where the melt water then poured over the Niagara Escarpment. The glaciers then also carved a pathway from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, and this is where the water flows. In this middle of this river was the falls. This stream became the Niagara River, and this marked the beginning of Niagara Falls’ history.

The river then eroded into the rock strata that were created millions of years before. The top layer, the dolostone, was a fairly strong material that resisted the effects of erosion. However, through small cracks in the withstanding rock, the water was able to wear away the softer layers underneath. With a weakened base, the dolostone collapsed under its own weight and fell to the bottom of the waterfall. This process has been repeating itself ever since the river started to flow over the Escarpment. Though this system, the falls have been continuously moving upstream from its starting point. As of right now, it has moved seven miles away from its original location. This cycle, in turn, has created the Niagara Gorge, which is a seven-mile long canyon.

Humanistic History of the Falls

The first people to have been living in the area were the ancestors of the present-day “Iroguoian” people. Close to nothing is known about these people, but their descendents are known for a richer history.

About 1,500 years later, the Native Americans who lived in the Niagara Region took part in a major point in history when they formed the “Great League of Peace.” This nation is known to most as the Iroquois Confederacy, and it was a joint population of five nations, which were Seneca, Cayuga, Onandaga, Oneida, and Mohawk. The Seneca tribe occupied the Niagara Region and was called the “Keepers of the Western Door.”

In the 1600’s, Europeans began to explore North America thoroughly. The first western residents who passed through the Niagara land were French, due to them being able to colonize parts of Canada and upper North America. One of the first to see the majestic falls was a Recollect priest named Father Louis Hennepin. He explored the area in December 1678, and later wrote about his sightings in an account of his travels. This work was translated and was able to spread the news about the splendor of the falls.
The French then focused on colonizing new places and spreading their land. By the late seventeen hundreds, they occupied the middle of North America, from northeast Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Niagara River, due to its joining of Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, became an important trade route. To assert their control, the French built temporary forts. These eventually were left, but by the 1700’s, it was crucial for France to build a permanent residence. They created Fort Niagara where the river joins Lake Ontario in order to protect the river from enemies like the British. The fort was a stone chateau that was very heavily fortified. Even today, it is called the “French Castle,” and it was completely self-contained. It was expanded upon, but during the French and Indian Wars, the British were able to get seize much of the continent from France. On July 26, 1759, they were able to obtain control over the Niagara region when the French surrendered Fort Niagara.

Though Fort Niagara was taken over by the British, the Iroquois League was still a major power in the region. They were strengthened by the addition of the Tuscarora Tribe when they were forced to move out of the Carolinas by settlers. However, the Great League of Peace’s power was shattered when the US government, after the Revolution devastated those who took sides with the British.
The British were still in control over the Niagara region, but in accordance with the Jay Treaty, they were able to acquire the eastern shores of the Niagara River. The British crossed over to the western side. The communities on the American side of the river grew very slow because of a lack of people willing to go.

The War of 1812 caused disaster on the area. Many battles took place, and villages and communities were burned. However, once it ended, it began to rebound. Many farmers began to see the advantages of the fertile land, and many moved. By this time, people began to see it as an attraction. It became famous and the number of tourists rose exponentially.
Engineering made Niagara more accessible by the construction of the Erie Canal and the Roebling Suspension Bridge. The Erie Canal connected two bodies of water, the Hudson River and Lake Erie, and this became part of a well-used transportation route between the Ocean and the Great Lakes. The Roebling Suspension Bridge, on the other hand, was able to carry traffic efficiently by utilizing two levels. Through these marvels of engineering, Niagara became a bustling shipping and commerce center.

However, the Civil War caused tourism levels to decrease. Though there were no physical hits toward Niagara, many from the community died in battle. Many in the local settlements were brave citizens who helped slaves to escape to Canada, where they would be free.
After the end of the Civil War, tourism and commerce levels were restored. Manufacturing became a popular sect of the local economy, and without the Niagara River, the industry would not have flourished. Hydropower helped to relieve energy from many of the men who worked.
1885 was an important year for Niagara, where the New York State Legislature created the Niagara Reservation to preserve the falls. In 1892, the villages of Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge consolidated into one called the City of Niagara Falls. It experienced great amounts of growth.
However, the most important event took place in 1895. The Edward Dean Adams hydroelectric generating station was opened, and this was the world’s first producer of alternating current. This could be sent over long distances, and helped to provide energy to Buffalo, about twenty fives miles away.

During the 20th century, everything remained unchanged except for variation in tourism during the World Wars. However, later in the century, preservation and restoration programs have been put to action for the benefit of Niagara. However, this does not mean that it is becoming obsolete; rather, it is still one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions.
This is the point at which the Past catches up with the Present.

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