Where is Niagara Falls located? Where is Niagara Falls and how to get to it? Famous waterfall between America and Canada

Niagara is a river that is one of the major water streams of North America. One can envy her beauty. After all, this is not a simple channel flowing through the area. The uniqueness of the river is that it has many waterfalls. They are known all over the world. A lot of people strive to come here at least once to see this unearthly beauty with their own eyes.

Description of Niagara (briefly)

Many people are interested in where exactly the Niagara River is located and from which lake it flows. The watercourse originates from the River is geographical boundary between the United States of America and Canada. In the United States, the Niagara flows in the state of New York, and in Canada its banks are located on the border of the province of Ontario. The length of the river is 56 km, the flow is directed mainly to the north, the volume of water is 665 thousand square meters. km. But what lake does the Niagara River flow into? As can already be understood from the information described above, the water flow ends its path in Canada. It flows into

Hydronym

The name of the river came to us from the Indians living in this territory. In the Iroquois language it was called Ongiara, literally translated “land in half.” This was mainly due to the fact that in the upper reaches the Niagara is divided into two branches, due to which islands were formed. Some of them belong to the United States (Grand Island) and one belongs to Canada (Navi Island).

A little history

Niagara is a river that is more than 6,000 years old. Her story can safely be called unique. During this time, many significant events occurred. The activity of the last ice sheet in North America also formed the Niagara River. The glacier, descending from the top, moved apart stone blocks, forming furrows. This is how these reservoirs arose. When the last period ended, the stream moved along these furrows and buried itself in the rapids, forming a system of waterfalls under the force of the water.

Niagara Falls

Niagara is a special river, if only because it has waterfalls. Thanks to the connection, you can enjoy these beauties. is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful on the planet. It has a complex system of thresholds, so a canal, the Welland, was artificially built to bypass it.

The “Niagara Miracle” is not a single site, but a complex consisting of several places where sharply high altitude The river water recedes. Together they form a single wide system of waterfalls. The height of the cliffs varies significantly. Highest points of these waterfalls - more than 50 m (located behind Canadian border), and the height of those located in America is 21 m. This difference in indicators is due to the fact that in the 50s of the last century, a cliff occurred on the site of the American waterfalls, forming a stone pile at the foot.

The importance of waterfalls for countries

This complex consists of three waterfalls - the American, Canadian “Horseshoe” and a section called “Veil”. Their width spans more than 1,000 m, and the power of the flow allows it to be used to generate hydroelectric power. Due to the fact that Niagara is a river with character, several significant hydroelectric power plants were built under its falls.

River waters were first used as a source of energy at the end of the 18th century. Small farmers and entrepreneurs built small canals and supplied their businesses with electricity. But already on a large scale, strong water flow began to be used in late XIX centuries after Tesla's invention of the alternating current generator. Currently, factories and enterprises have been built at the foot of the waterfalls that successfully use water energy.

The value of the Niagara water stream

Understanding where the Niagara River is is very important, since several cities are located on its deep banks:

  • Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Lewis - in the United States.
  • Fort Erie and Niagra Falls - off the coast of Canada.

The river, together with the waterfalls, has enormous economic value for these two countries. This place is also popular among tourists, which brings considerable income to the treasury of states.

Shipping

The Niagara River is deep and suitable for heavy navigable ships. But because of the waterfall, the path is interrupted. To solve the problem, a special canal was built to bypass the cliff, which, since the 1960s, has allowed ships to travel along the river from Atlantic Ocean and to the Great Lakes territory and back. Now, annually the total amount of cargo transported along this route reaches 40 million tons.

The canal has a modern equipment system, equipped with 8 shipping locks that can control the water level and ensures a comfortable transition from one water basin to another.

Tourism

Undoubtedly, waterfalls are very popular in the tourist aspect.
Every year millions of holidaymakers from all over globe come to see the miracle of nature. For this purpose, a powerful infrastructure has been developed here. Tourists have the opportunity to take a tour of the waterfall by helicopter or hot-air balloon. A large number of observation platforms and towers have been built here. Even at night they conduct excursions, when the waterfalls shimmer with multi-colored lanterns and spotlights.

Most popular on Niagara Falls The “attraction” is a walk under the receding waters on special boats.

Niagara Falls is one of the oldest nature reserves USA.
Not only beauty lovers are eager to go on excursions here, but also people thirsting for extreme sports. So, in 1901, an ordinary teacher junior classes Mrs. Taylor decided to jump off a waterfall in a wooden barrel for her 63rd birthday. Subsequently, her act was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Now the laws of Canada and the United States prohibit going down the waterfall by any means, but this does not stop daredevils.

Niagara Falls is lucky to be located on the border of the largest American states - the USA and Canada, which, naturally, has contributed to the transformation of Niagara into the most famous waterfall in the world, where crowds of tourists flock every year. Although in terms of its parameters, for example, in height, it is inferior to many other waterfalls, you cannot deny it popularity and publicity. It is also not the widest waterfall in the world, but Niagara Falls is the most powerful in North America by the volume of water passing through it (about 5700 or more m3/s).

Niagara Falls, where the border of the two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario) lies, consists of actually three separate waterfalls - American, Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls, which is often called Canadian Falls due to the fact that it is located in this country. The height of Niagara Falls in the American part is 51 meters, and the free fall height is only 20 meters due to the large number of rocks. But it is quite wide - 330 meters. However, this does not compare with the most impressive waterfall Horseshoes, whose width due to the beautiful bend reaches 790 meters. The height of Niagara Falls in the Canadian part is 49 meters. The Canadian and American falls are separated by Goat Island with observation decks, alleys, souvenir shops and a monument to Nikola Tesla. The third and smallest waterfall is Veil Falls. It is quite narrow and separated from the American Island by a small island called Silver Island. The beautiful Rainbow Bridge, built in 1941 and connecting Canada and the USA, spans the gorge through which the waters of Niagara flow.

An interesting event occurred in 1911, when, due to unprecedented frosts, Niagara Falls completely froze and turned into a huge block of ice, which numerous tourists who came to see this amazing phenomenon tried to climb.

The name Niagara comes from the old Iroquoian word "Onguiaahra", which is commonly believed to mean "Thunder of Water". The Western world learned about the existence of the waterfall thanks to the explorer Father Louis Hennepin, who described it in 1677 during one of his travels. And after a couple of centuries, due to the emerging fashion for tourism, Niagara Falls began to be actively visited, which led to the development of this area. In particular, thanks to the efforts of the great Nikola Tesla, a power plant was built. Today, Niagara continues to attract crowds of tourists. The majority of visitors on the American side are Indians. IN last years there was a massive influx of immigrants from India into the city of Niagara Falls, which today is filled with Indian food restaurants, souvenir shops, etc.

Over the past 150 years, Niagara has managed to attract (and destroy) many crazy people who dreamed of conquering the stormy elements. Thus, the first to survive after jumping from a waterfall in 1829 was a certain Sam Patch. Another trend was barrel jumping. The first time 63-year-old Annie Taylor managed to do this and survive was in 1901. The shows of tightrope walkers right above the gorge, where the waters of Niagara flow, were popular. Miracles also happened at the waterfall - for example, in 1960, a 7-year-old boy, Roger Woodward, fell into the Horseshoe Falls. Despite the fact that he was wearing only a life jacket, the boy miraculously survived and was pulled aboard the Maid of the mist boat. In any case, when visiting the waterfall you should follow basic safety rules, since the waters in this place are very stormy and dangerous. But it is under no circumstances recommended to deny yourself the pleasure of enjoying such a spectacular spectacle as Niagara Falls. On the American side there is a wonderful observation deck protruding from the rock. In addition, a special elevator leads from it to the river bank to the Maid if the mist tourist boat pier. Ships have been operating in the Niagara area since 1846. Today the cost of the trip is $13, but it's worth it. The main thing is not to forget to take raincoats from the company employees, otherwise the tourist will most likely get wet to the skin, since the boats come quite close to the waterfalls. This is especially true for the rushing Horseshoe Falls.

Excursions to Niagara Falls

Tourists should recommend a boat trip to the waterfall with the Maid of the Mist excursion. Guests are shown the top of the gorge and the beginning of the Horseshoe Falls, where they can see rainbows created by the sun and water dust. All excursionists receive yellow raincoats with hoods and goggles, since the chances of staying dry during the trip are zero.

Another one interesting excursion— Journey Behind the Falls: a special elevator takes guests to three tunnels, which offer stunning views of cascading streams of water.

An equally memorable experience can be experienced by rising above Niagara Falls in a hot air balloon or jet boat.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours is offering jet boat tours of Devil's Hole Rapids from June 22 to September 2. Everyone is given life jackets.

Niagara Falls - panorama, online tour on Google Maps

Video, Niagara Falls from above

Niagara Falls- one of the most famous and popular natural attractions in North America.

Niagara Falls is located on the Niagara River, which connects Lakes Ontario and Erie, and separates Canada from New York State. From the town of Buffalo it is about 30 km to the waterfall.

On both banks of the Niagara River there are cities with the same names: Niagara Falls - an American and a Canadian town. The very name of the waterfall is pronounced in the language of the Indians who once lived on these lands as “Ongniaahra”. Different translations of this word - "Thundering Water" or "Halving".

According to scientists, Niagara Falls was formed several thousand years ago during the melting of the glacier. Then the streams of water washed the channel in the soft sandstone and the Niagara River, with its flow, made a deep gorge in the sandstones, until the moment when harder rocks appeared outside. A cliff formed, from which thousands of tons of water fell down. Due to the high particle content rocks in river water, the water has a characteristic greenish tint.

Presumably, over the past ten thousand years, Niagara Falls has risen 11 km upstream of the Niagara, and this movement continues today at a rate of approximately 30 cm per year. Scientists believe that this process will stop in 50 thousand years, when the waterfall reaches Lake Erie and simply disappears.

Indian legends tell of a beauty named Lelavalae. Her father betrothed his daughter to an Indian warrior, whom the girl did not love at all and even despised. Instead of getting married, she chose to sacrifice herself to her true beloved - the thunder god He-No, who lived under a waterfall in a cave. Lelavalae got into a canoe and floated down the fast flow of Niagara, and then threw herself down a huge waterfall. But He-No caught her on the fly. Since then, their souls have lived together under a waterfall in the sanctuary of the Thunder God.

Every year millions of tourists from different parts of the world come to Niagara Falls. Especially for them there is cable car, many paths and galleries for hiking, and observation decks, towers, helicopter tours and even the opportunity to fly over the waterfall in a hot air balloon. IN summer time after dark and until midnight, colored spotlights are turned on to illuminate the cascading streams of water.

But the most popular tourist attraction is a ride under the waterfalls on pleasure boats called "Maiden of the Mist". These excursions have remained Niagara's most famous attraction for nearly one hundred and fifty years. They are held on both the American and Canadian sides. It is by swimming under the waterfall that every tourist is able to appreciate the true power of the “Thundering Water”.

By the way, the Niagara Falls area is the oldest nature reserve in New York state, opened back in 1885. Today it is a state-protected area.

  • More than 20% of America's drinking water flows through Niagara Falls;
  • Two bridges (Rainbow Bridge and Whirlpool Rapids Bridge) cross Niagara Falls. Passenger transport moves safely along them;
  • Brown foam forms downstream from the waterfall. It owes its characteristic color to the clay bottom at the very foot of Niagara Falls;
  • When falling from a waterfall, the fish does not break at the bottom, which is explained by the presence of a large amount of foam, which acts as a softening cushion. More than 90 percent of the fish survive;
  • A huge number of people do not give up trying to conquer Niagara Falls. Back in 1829, Sam Patch made a jump into the gorge. Surprisingly, after this the daredevil remained alive. A little later, in October 1901, a teacher named Annie Edson Taylor also survived after being put in a barrel and thrown into a gorge. The archive, which records all attempts to conquer Niagara Falls, deserves special attention. Until today it is regularly updated;
  • Niagara Falls is an excellent setting for filming, which is actively used by filmmakers. Many films were also shot directly about this miracle of nature. The most famous people who were filmed against the backdrop of the waterfall are Joseph Cotten, Marilyn Monroe and many others. Most popular films: "Pirates" Caribbean Sea: At the End of the World", "Superman II" (1980), "Niagara". Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic was filmed in IMAX.
  • There are a number of versions regarding the origin of the name of the waterfall. According to one version, voiced by Bruce Trigger, the waterfall owes its name to one of the tribe living in close proximity to it. Another scientist (George R. Stewart) suggests that “Niagara” is a derivative of “Ongniaahra” - that was the name of one of the provinces where the Iroquois tribes lived;

Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (Robert Linsdell / flickr.com) American Falls and Veil, USA, New York (Richie Diesterheft / flickr.com) View of the Horseshoe Falls - part of Niagara Falls. (snowgen / flickr.com) LUIS ANGEL CAMARGO / flickr.com Joe deSousa / flickr.com paul bica / flickr.com Aerial view of Niagara (Doc Searls / flickr.com) Fata Falls to the right of the American Falls (Robert Linsdell / flickr .com) Veil Falls, Niagara Falls, NY (GreggMP / flickr.com) American Falls, observation tower and Rainbow Bridge (Kimon Berlin / flickr.com) On the way to the American Falls and Veil (Morgan Paul / flickr.com) View from the stairs on the way to the observation deck (rizha ubal / flickr.com) Niagara Falls - view from the stairs along the way to the observation deck (Rosalba Tarazona / flickr.com) Maid of the Mist walk to the base of the falls (Joe deSousa / flickr.com) Niagara Falls Cascade (Jason Pratt / flickr.com) Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls (Arian Zwegers / flickr .com) View from a pleasure boat (Nic Redhead / flickr.com) American Falls (Robert Linsdell / flickr.com) Niagara River (Ken Lund / flickr.com)

Niagara Falls is one of the the most beautiful waterfalls world, along with Victoria and Iguazu. In fact, this is not one waterfall, but a whole chain of cascades that belong to both the USA and Canada.

Niagara Falls (or Niagara) includes 3 waterfalls that have very powerful streams of water falling from great heights.

Their names are: American Falls, Horseshoe and Veil.

According to one version, “Niagara” means “roar of water.” In another version, the name comes from the name of the Iroquois tribe - Ongiara. Its approximate translation is “forked earth.”

The height of all three waterfalls is approximately equal and averages 53 meters.

American Falls and Veil - view from the stairs on the way to the observation deck (Rosalba Tarazona / flickr.com)

At the American Falls (USA, New York), the overall height is significantly concealed by the pile of stones located below, which arose due to a landslide in the middle of the last century. Visually its height is 21 meters.

The Horseshoe Falls (Canada) leads in width - 792 meters, and it also takes on the maximum volume of water (90%). While the width of the American Falls is approximately half that – 323 meters.

The enormous volume of water that rushes through Niagara in this section every second is 5,700 cubic meters. The noise from the roaring water is so great that it is impossible to talk nearby. And water dust from it spreads over a long distance.

Fata Falls (USA), 17 meters wide and 25 meters high, is, of course, inferior in size to the two previous giants.

Where is Niagara Falls located? Location of Niagara Falls

The Niagara River runs along the border of two vast countries of the continent, thus dividing the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York.

View of Niagara from an airplane (Doc Searls / flickr.com)

Niagara connects the two Great Lakes of the continent - Erie and Ontario. Its bed stretches for 56 kilometers. It originates in Lake Erie and flows mostly in a northerly direction.

Closer to the source, the current is divided by islands. On the US side it is Grand Island, on the Canadian side it is N’vi Island. Niagara carries its waters into Lake Ontario.

Niagara Falls on the map is located on the border of two countries - the USA and Canada. The waterfall is located in the middle part of the Niagara River and is especially beautiful from the shores of Canada.

Just upstream is Goat Island, which cuts the Niagara River into two parts. To the west of the island is the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and to the east are the American and Veil waterfalls. The latter is completely separated from the American small island called Luna.

Panorama of Niagara - American and Canadian Falls, Ontario, Canada (Robert Linsdell / flickr.com)

Location of Niagara Falls on the map

History of discovery

There are different opinions about who was the first to discover Niagara Falls.

In 1604 there was an expedition led by the Frenchman Samuel de Chamlin. But it was not the leader himself who saw Niagara Falls, but one of the participants in his expedition spoke about the majestic creation of nature. The Frenchman entered this description in a journal.

Then detailed description Niagara was made independently by Per Kalm at the beginning of the 18th century. But according to some sources, the Catholic priest Louis Hennipen made a qualitative description of these waterfalls earlier - in the winter of 1677–1678. Together with the French expedition, for the purpose of missionary activity among the Iroquois tribe, and the explorer Rene Lasalle.

Development of the waterfall

In the middle of the 18th century, attempts to somehow use the power of Niagara Falls began for the first time. In 1759 Den Jonkers dug a small canal to power his own sawmill. Soon this territory was purchased and the water power was used for the mill.

The Niagara River and, accordingly, its falls became the border between the United States and Canada after the Civil War of Independence in the United States of America.

American Falls, Observation Tower and Rainbow Bridge (Kimon Berlin / flickr.com)

In 1848, when Niagara Falls gained popularity in the United States of America and Canada, the first bridge was built for pedestrians. It was designed by Charles Ellet.

Later, this bridge was replaced by the creation of the architect Rombling, the future author of a similar structure in Brooklyn.

And in 1897, an arched bridge was built on this site, mainly from metal structures. It was already both pedestrian and for road and rail transport.

The power plant was built here for the first time in 1881. Niagara began to provide energy to nearby settlements. The power plant was constantly subject to improvements. But it existed until 1951, when it was destroyed by another landslide. The authorities of the United States of America built a new one 10 years later, and at that time it was the largest power plant in the world.

Go through Niagara Falls in a barrel and stay alive

In 1901, teacher Taylor from the United States went over Niagara Falls in a barrel and managed to survive.

Bobby Leach with a barrel after passing Niagara Falls

She wanted to celebrate her 63rd birthday this way. After she tried this trick on her cat, she decided to take this step herself.

She herself did not know how many followers Teacher Annie would have in the future. But not everyone is as lucky as her. For example, no one managed to pass the American Falls (New York State) alive due to a pile of boulders.

However, this method of crossing Niagara Falls is considered illegal in both the United States and Canada.

Attempts to save the waterfall

As tourism boomed, some businessmen took over lucrative land near Niagara. To prevent this, a movement was created called "Free Niagara".

Letters were sent to newspapers in New York and Boston. Thus, it was possible to influence the public, and in 1885 the state of New York gradually bought these lands from their owners.

Since the waterfall was constantly shifting to the south, in the 20th century an agreement was reached between neighboring countries on actions to reduce the waterfall’s full flow.

In 1969, Niagara was launched in a different direction. As a result, the American Falls were completely drained. Some of the water was taken over by the Horseshoe Falls. This was necessary to create a rock slope and an earthen dam. After some time, Niagara returned to its course.

How did Niagara Falls come about?

The formation of Niagara Falls is closely related to the Wisconsin glaciation. The Ice Age, which ended 6 thousand years ago, greatly influenced the entire modern northern territory of the North American continent.

Niagara River (Ken Lund / flickr.com)

The glacier slid like a huge shield from the eastern part of modern Canada. For many years he cultivated and modified the surface of this land, moved stones here and there, expanded river beds and formed lake basins.

On the contrary, it blocked some channels with its glacial deposits, so that the rivers then re-paved their path.

When the glacier melted, it filled the Great American Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Erie, Huron, Ontario with water. And the water from large lake Erie, began to gradually pave the way for the Niagara River.

The area where the channel is located is characterized by soft rocks occurring in two layers. The upper layer is composed of limestones, and the lower layer is composed of even more unstable shales, with limestone veins.

View from a pleasure boat (Nic Redhead / flickr.com)

All these rocks were formed in the Early and Late Silurian. The instability of the rocks allowed the river to create such a large ledge, cut deeply into the plain, reaching a solid base.

The lower part of the Niagara Valley is composed of sandstones and shales of Ordovician age. All these are sedimentary deposits of the ancient sea that covered this territory.

Niagara Falls is still moving upstream as a result of water erosion. Over 10,900 years, it moved several miles south. It is estimated that in 50 thousand years Niagara Falls will move to the section of the river where it flows out of Lake Erie. By then it will cease to exist.

Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful attractions in the USA and Canada, and indeed the whole world, which you can reach one day tour from New York, Ottawa and Toronto.

It is the most famous waterfall in the world and perhaps one of the most beautiful. It is located on the Niagara River, located on the border of the United States and Canada, and, translated from the Iroquois Indian language, means “thundering water.” The towns of Niagara Falls of the same name are located on both the American and Canadian sides.

In fact, Niagara is called a complex of three waterfalls located on the Niagara River - these are Horseshoe Falls (aka Canadian Falls), American Falls and Veil Falls. They are not particularly high, but quite wide, and in terms of the volume of water passing through them, Niagara Falls is the most powerful in North America.

The largest among the three waterfalls is the Horseshoe, its width reaches 790 meters and height 51 meters. Next comes the American Falls, about 300 meters wide and 49 meters high (due to the pile of stones at the foot of the waterfall, the height of the water fall is only 20-30 meters). Veil Falls is the smallest in Niagara, its width is only 17 meters and its height is 24 meters.

In 1969, to strengthen the rapidly deteriorating falls, the American part of Niagara was drained. Within a few months, the river was returned to its previous course, and the most interesting thing was that the “dry” Niagara Falls attracted more tourists, than usual.

Judging by the research of scientists, Niagara Falls is moving upstream by one meter per year, and in ten thousand years it has already moved 11 kilometers. At this rate, in 50 thousand years the waterfall will reach Lake Erie and cease to exist.

Energy of Niagara Falls

As it passes through great amount water, it would be advisable to use it for energy. It is for this purpose that a hydroelectric power station was built here, which provides electricity to a quarter of New York State.

The first power station was built here back in 1881. It was modernized many times and was used until 1951, when it was destroyed as a result of a landslide. In 1957, a decision was made to build a new hydroelectric power station, which was to be the largest at that time. Construction ended in 1961, and the new hydroelectric power station was named after the outstanding New York city planner Robert Moses.

Tourism in Niagara Falls

Every year millions of tourists come to see Niagara. For them, observation platforms and towers, a cable car, and paths for walking, and in the summer, after dark and until midnight, the waterfalls are illuminated by colored spotlights. Tourists also have excursions by helicopter and hot air balloon.

The most popular entertainment is a trip on the Maid of the Mist excursion boats under the waterfalls. Excursions depart from both the American and Canadian sides of the falls, and it is on them, hiding from the spray under a cape, that you can fully enjoy the grandiose view of Niagara Falls.

Stunts at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls has attracted many daredevils since ancient times. The first was Sam Patch, who jumped into Niagara from the edge of the falls in 1829. In 1859, the famous French tightrope walker Charles Blondin became the first person to cross from one bank of the Niagara to the other on a tightrope.

On October 24, 1901, ordinary schoolteacher Annie Taylor decided to celebrate her 63rd birthday in an original way. She became the first person to descend from Niagara Falls in a barrel and still remain alive.

Many people were haunted by Annie Taylor's trick, and the first who managed to repeat it was Bobby Leach in 1911. Unlike Annie, who used steel reinforced and padded to jump from a waterfall soft material, an oak barrel, Leach used a steel one. As a result of the jump, he received serious injuries and spent six months in the hospital.

Currently, attempts to descend Niagara Falls are illegal in both the United States and Canada, but nevertheless, from time to time there are daredevils who want to become famous in this way.

Where is Niagara Falls located?

Located at Niagara Falls, NY 14303, USA.

You can get to Niagara from two sides - Canadian and American.

From the American side, you will need to get to Buffalo, from where bus No. 210 runs to the American Niagara Falls.

To get to Niagara from the Canadian side, you will first need to get to the city of Toronto, from the central bus station(Toronto Coach Terminal) which runs a bus to Niagara Falls. From Niagara Falls, directly to the falls, there is a small local bus.

 

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