Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Travel
Niagara Falls is one of North America's most iconic natural spectacles, straddling the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, U.S. It includes three separate waterfalls, Horseshoe Falls, also known as Canadian Falls, American Falls, and the smallest, Bridal Veil Falls. These three sets of waterfalls together create the highest volume of any waterfall in the world, moving 2,832 cubic meters per second over the crest.
While Niagara long has been a magnet for honeymooners and thrill seekers, some of whom have famously crossed the falls on tightropes or gone over them in barrels, today the emphasis is on its natural beauty and the engineering marvels that have allowed the natural wonder to be preserved.
The Structure and Formation
Goat Island naturally divides waterfalls. On the Canadian side are Horseshoe Falls, which stand 188 feet tall and 2,200 feet wide, hence its name for its horseshoe shape. The American Falls, on the U.S. side, are a bit taller at 190 feet, but not as wide, stretching 1,060 feet. Of the three smallest, the Bridal Veil Falls, which is situated adjacent to American Falls, separated by Luna Island.
These are fed by four of the five Great Lakes, namely Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, whose water then cascades into Lake Ontario. The sheer volume of water that goes over these falls, coupled with the picturesque setting, makes them an attractive destination for millions of tourists annually.
Geological Importance and Erosion
Coming back to the beginning of its formation process, Niagara Falls can be dated back 14,000 years ago to the last Ice Age when glaciers began their recession and gave way to the existence of the Niagara Escarpment. This is because the falls have been receding ever since with erosion below the falls into the soft shale and limestone averaging about 1.2 meters per year. Due to water diversion for hydroelectric power, this process is considerably slower than it was then.
Horseshoe Falls, over which pours 90% of the river's flow, have carved a vast bowl in the rock face downstream from the cataract, making a perpendicular plunge into the Maid of the Mist pool. Earlier in this century an attempt was made to cement and stabilize portions of the American Falls in order to prevent the cataracts from being transformed into rapids by dolomite blocks accumulating at their base.
Natural Beauty
Among the Niagara Falls attractions available to visitors are, Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side provides great panigraphic views of the falls, while on the American side lies Niagara Falls State Park, which happens to be the oldest in the United States.
Visitors can take a walk across footbridges leading to Goat Island and explore the Cave of the Winds, an exhilarating experience that takes tourists behind Bridal Veil Falls and right into the mist. The Maid of the Mist boat tour offers a close up view from the water of the mighty Horseshoe Falls.
On the other side, the Rainbow Bridge allows for a pedestrian crossing between the U.S. and Canada, with great views of both the American and Canadian falls.
Niagara Falls is lined with illuminations at night, which, added with the flair of frequent fireworks displays, creates an enchanting experience for one visiting.
Cultural and Historical Significance
For centuries, Niagara Falls offered a spiritual link for native peoples, especially the Iroquoian speaking Neutral Nation. Indeed, some believe the word "Niagara" is derived from a native word that means "thundering waters" or "neck," symbolizing the link between Lakes Erie and Ontario.
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) took control in the 17th century when they displaced the Neutral Nation. It has been a place of curiosity and attraction since the 17th century, but in the 19th century, tourism boomed once facilities to accommodate tourists were developed.
It sees over 8 million visitors every year. The tourist attractions available to visitors include visits to the Aquarium of Niagara, hiking along the Niagara Gorge, and a visit to the Skylon Tower that gives a panoramic view of the falls. Add to that helicopter tours, zip lines, and observation decks, it only cements Niagara's position as one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world.
