Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m).
The Falls at Niagara are about 12,000 years old.
Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and also by flow rate.
The Canadian Horseshoe Falls drops an average of 57 m into the Lower Niagara River. The crest line of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls is approximately 670 m wide. 35 m deep at the edge of the falls.
The Niagara falls travels down the Niagara River to Lake Ontario, where it then flows into the St. Lawrence River and finally into the Atlantic Ocean.
Roughly 13 million people used to visit Niagara Falls every year. Scientists discovered that the Niagara Falls have moved back 7 miles in the past 12,500 years. The reason behind is that because over 70 gallons of water have eroded the rock which have determined the waterfalls position. This averages to approximately 4 feet per year.
The 3 waterfalls (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe Falls) combines to produce the highest flow rate of any waterfall on earth.
The average American residence would need 7 1/2 years to use the same amount of water that flows over the Niagara Falls in one second.
Average depth of the water below Niagara Falls is 170 feet, which is as deep as the Niagara Gorge banks are high.
The American Falls is 180 feet from the top of the Falls to the river and the crest line is 850 feet wide. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls drops 188 feet and the crest line is 2200 feet.
American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls:
Length of brink: 1060 feet /323 meters
Height: 176 feet / 53 meters
Volume of water: 150,000 U.S. Gallons / 570,000 Liters per second
Horseshoe Falls:
Length of brink: 2600 feet / 792 meters
Height: 167 feet / 51 meters
Volume of water: 600,000 U.S. gallons / 2,30,000 liters per second
The Falls current rate of erosion is estimated at 3-4 inches every 10 years. Scientists believe the Niagara Falls will be gone in around 50,000 years.
The Niagara Falls water power is shared between the U.S. and Canada. Today, Niagara is the biggest electricity producer in New York.
From Niagara falls US is generating 2.4 million kilowatts which is enough power to light 24 million 100-watt bulbs at once, and saves hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Every year nearly 25 people commit suicide at the Falls; over 5,000 bodies have been recovered from the bottom of the Falls since 1850.
In 1800 Niagara Falls was nearly frozen solid. The water was so frozen that only a small trickle of water traveled down the Falls.
Approximately 90% of the fish that travel down Niagara Falls survive. It is believed that the white foam from the rushing waters acts like a cushion for the fish traveling down the waters.
There are actually about 500 waterfalls that are taller than Niagara. It’s actually the combination of height and large volume of water that makes Niagara Falls a great tourist destination.
Inspirational Niagara Falls Fact:
Nearly 22% of the drinking water in the United States goes through and over Niagara Falls.
