Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls is one of the largest and most famous waterfall in the world. The waterfall consists of three parts:

1. The Horseshoe Falls
2. American Falls
3. Bridal Veil Falls

American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls

The American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe falls are on the border between the United States and Canada between the same cities of Niagara Falls in the U.S. state of New York and Niagara Falls in the Canadian province of Ontario. The cities are connected by the Rainbow Bridge, a bridge over the Niagara River, below the falls.

Rainbow Bridge Niagara River

Niagara Falls Characteristics

The drop of the falls is not very large, averaging about 196 feet (60 meters) total, but the width and the amount of water at Niagara Falls passes make a great spectacle. From the American side you stand beside the water that falls over the edge. From the Canadian side you can see the American Falls as well as the Horseshoe Falls in their full glory.

There is a lot of electricity generated at Niagara and the amount of water that rushes down the falls is therefore very carefully controlled. The falls have moved themselves in geologically top speed through the valley of the River Niagara. A little further downstream you can see with what force the maelstrom of the fallen rocks the water at the foot of the fall has eroded. There are narrow many meters deep slits in the rocks found where a man doesn’t fit in.

Tourists can view the falls from close nearby by taking a boat cruise on the Maid of the Mist, a boat which takes tourists very close to the falls.

Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist Boat Tour

The Three Niagara Waterfalls

The waterfall consists of three parts: The Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

The Horseshoe Falls
The Horseshoe Falls, also known as Canadian Falls, are part of the famous Niagara Falls. Approximately 90% of the water of the Niagara River flows over the Horseshoe Falls, while approximately 10% flows over the American Falls. The name ‘Horseshoe Falls’ comes from the semicircular shape from this waterfall. This part of the Niagara Falls is on the border of the United States and Canada, for the most part on Canadian territory, to be precise, between Terrapin Point on Goat Island in New York and Table Rock House in Ontario.

The Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (790 meters) wide. In the middle of the Horseshoe Falls the water is about 10 feet (3 meters) deep and passes the edge of the waterfall with 20 miles per hour (32 km / h). The height of the waterfall is 174 feet (53 meters). The depth of the river at the foot of the falls is even greater than the height of the waterfall, which is estimated at 184 feet (56 meters).

Goat Island is located between Horseshoe Falls and the other two waterfalls. Two bridges connect the island above the falls with the American side.

American Falls
The American Falls is the largest of the two Niagara Falls which lie entirely in the United States, but is smaller than the Horseshoe Falls. The width at the top of the American Falls is about 830 feet (253 meters) in a straight line. The total length of the curved edge is about 951 feet (290 meters). The height of the waterfall is 69 feet (21 meters) after which it hits down hard on a group of rocks that appeared in 1954 as a result of major landslide. The depth of water at the top of the American Falls is only 1.98 feet (0.6 meters).

Bridal Veil Falls
Between the American Falls lies an island: Luna Island. Because of this the waterfall consist of two parts: on the right the actual American Falls and on the left Bridal Veil Falls (the smallest of the three falls). Like the American Falls, this waterfall lies entirely in the territory of the United States, between Luna Island and Goat Island. The width at the top of Bridal Veil Falls is only 56 feet (17 meters). The Bridal Veil Falls drop about 79 feet (24 meters), measured till the rocks at the bottom of the falls. 102 feet (31 meters) below the top at the foot of the falls lies the Maid of the Mist Pool. The total drop is about 180 feet (55 meters).

A bridge (accessible by foot) over the waterfall connects Goat Island and Luna Island.

Niagara Falls Image Gallery

Niagara Falls Video Gallery

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