Facts About Niagara Falls

Niagara falls, which are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, have always been popular for the enchanting beauty and largess. The name Niagara originates from an Iroquois word Onguiaahra which means thunder of waters. Here are some interesting facts about Niagara falls:

Facts About Niagara Falls

• Niagara Falls were formed as a result of glaciers receding at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes, which together created a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.
  
  
• Although the Niagara Waterfalls are not exceptionally high, they are very wide. Their length of brink is 1060 feet while their height is 176 feet. Niagara Falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls in North America.
  
  
• Niagara Falls are located on the international border that separates the Canadian province of Ontario and the American state of New York.
  
  
• Niagara Falls includes two major sections which are divided by the Goat Island. These two sections are the Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the United States side. One smaller section of the waterfall called the Bridal Veil Falls is also located on the American side and is separated from the main falls by the Luna Island.
  
  
• One of the oldest and best known tourist attractions at the Niagara Falls is the boat cruise called Maid of the Mist boat cruise, which is named after an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character.
  
  
• The Niagara Falls had long been identified as a potential source of power. One of the very first attempts to utilize the Niagara Falls as a source of energy was in 1759. In 1759, Daniel Joncaire built a small canal above the waterfalls to power his sawmill.
  
  
• Augustus and Peter Porter later purchased this place along with the entire American falls in 1805 from the New York state government. Augustus and Peter Porter enlarged the original canal in order to provide hydraulic to power their gristmill and tannery.
  
  
• In 1853, the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Mining Company was chartered, which eventually constructed the canals that were to be used for electricity generation. In the year 1881, under the leadership of Jacob Schoellkopf, power was generated using the Niagara waters. The power was sufficient to illuminate both the Falls as well as the nearby Niagara Falls village.
  
  
• It is a fact that the original Niagara Falls were near the sites of present-day Queenston, Ontario, and Lewiston, New York. However owing to the erosion of their crest, the waterfalls have retreated several miles southward.
  
  
• Several people have attempted to conquer the Niagara Falls. In October 1829, Sam Patch, jumped from a high tower into the gorge below the falls and also survived the jump. This incident has continues into a long tradition of daredevils, some of whom successfully conquered the falls, while some even lost their lives in the attempt.
  
  
• The number of tourists visiting the Niagara Falls in 2008 is expected to total 20 million. In addition to this, the annual rate is expected to top 28 million tourists per year by the year 2009.