The Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of North America. Here the river Niagara, which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, about 50 feet crashed into the depths. The word Niagara comes from the original Native Americans living here, from the Iroquois.
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls written before about 12,000 years ago when the last great glaciers melted and the Lake Erie lake to overflow brought. The melt water formed the Niagara River, which ergoss. At this time on the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment in the Onatariosee the centuries removed these rocks further and further, up to 2 meters per year. The river surface is made of hard dolomite rock under which is softer limestone. The water masses at the foot of the cases eroded the soft limestone until the overhang with no more and falls into the river bed.
In this way, the Niagara Falls have 11 since its inception for over kilometers moved toward Lake Erie. Even today, the cases drag on the decline, but at reduced speed. By using the Niagara falls as a power supplier, has reduced the impact of the cases significantly.
1969 built the U. S. Army a dam to drain the American cases. A team of experts from the United States and Canada examined the erosion and how they would prevent. She came to the conclusion that the cost would be much too high to stop the erosion. Only minor work was carried out to ensure security for the many tourists.
The Niagara Falls are now using 2 different cases: the American Falls and the “Horseshoefalls” on the Canadian side. About the American cases reflects only about 15% of the river, the other water masses Horseshoefalls down there. Shortly after the cases can be over the rainbow bridge between the two countries. The “Maid of the Mist”, which goes into the American cases over to the Canadian Falls. Of course there is no single “Maid of Mist”, but several. Since the ride will be plenty wet, you can get when starting a blue raincoat. The camera should be preserved, even under the cape and just get out when the wind drives the spray is not in the boat. Directly in the Canadian cases, the spray is so thick that you almost do not recognize. Nevertheless, an experience.
The American Falls are 54 meters high and just over 300 meters wide. On one side of the falls can be accessed through a paved road to the foot of the American cases. About the Canadian cases of the main part of the river flows. They are 51 meters high and wide at its widest point, nearly 800 meters. While the American cases flow over a rock bed, plunge the Canadian cases directly into the flow.
There are numerous vantage points around the cases: Prospect Point, Table Rock and Terrapin Point. Furthermore, there are 4 observation towers. In the Skylon Tower revolving restaurant there is a good that requires a complete revolution about 1 hour.
The Niagara Falls are currently regulated for power generation. However, the power companies can happen during the day in 2800 cubic meters of water per second. At night, slows the flow of electricity generation up to 1400 cubic meters per second. As a result of regulation to pull the Niagara Falls back only a few centimeters per year.
In this century, three times the cases have changed their appearance significantly. 70000 tonnes in 1931 threw down field rock the American cases. A few years later broke out 27,000 tonnes of rock from the Canadian cases. 1954 170000 tonnes last rock, the American rock fell near the Prospect Point down.
In 1800, the Niagara Falls have been developed for tourists. Many hotels grew up haphazardly around the cases. 1885 finally declared the state of New York cases as a natural park, which is now 174 acres. A year later, the Canadians also protected their cases and established the Queen Victoria Park with nearly 80 hectares.