These majestic waterfalls are more than just a pretty photo op.
Although not formally awonder of the world , Niagara Falls is quite the feat of natural splendor . These roaring waterfalls produce imposing raft of mist where the plump pee meets the pool below , make for wildphoto ops , honeymoon moment , and many more intellect to visit . But even beyond the instinctive beauty of our nation’soldest res publica common , there ’s even more to Niagara Falls than meets the eye . Here are 12 thing you did n’t know about Niagara Falls .
1. It’s a 3-for-1 deal
Niagara Falls ( plural ) is actually a grouping of three unlike waterfalls lining the US and Canadian border . The aptly identify American Falls are stateside while the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls are almost completely situate on the Canadian side .
2. Love (and tons of mist) is in the air
The Canadian side of Niagara Falls in Ontario is often referred to as the “ Honeymoon Capital of The World . ” This name is enounce to have uprise from when Theodosia Burr , the girl of US Vice President Aaron Burr and the depicted object of an emotional Lin Manuel Mirandaoriginal song , traveled to the free fall with her new hubby Joseph Alston .
3. They had a looks into camera moment
Niagara Falls , in addition to being a historic honeymoon spot , is also the locating where TV character Jim and Pam said “ I do ” in the American comedy seriesThe Office . The installment , a two - parter entitled “ Niagara , ” aired in October 2009 .
4. They are far from the tallest waterfall in the U.S.
Although the waterfall seem shocking in their acme , the highest part of Niagara Falls is only 176 feet , make water them far from the tallest waterfalls in the United States . Yosemite Falls takes that title at a shameful 2,425 foot marvellous — that ’s almost two full Empire State Buildings gamy .
5. Yes, people try to go down the Falls
Niagara falls attract around 8 million visitors a year . That ’s a mint of honeymooner . It was only a matter of fourth dimension before this identification number of tourist make a problem . The first woman to illegally go over the bound of the falls in a barrel was 63 - class - older school teacher Annie Edson Taylor . She fortunately only suffered from a concussion and minor cuts on her foreland .
6. The Falls are on the move
Niagara Falls was originally located seven mile downriver from its current localization . Due to current erosion rates , the falls are moving approximately one foot every year . Although there are efforts to slow down the erosion through flow control and diversion to hydropower generators , one day ( probably tens of thousands of years from today ) Niagara Falls will eat away decent into Lake Erie .
7. They generate a whole lot of power
In 1885 , Nikola Tesla and George Washington created the first hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls . utilize the power of the falls , these plants are capable of sire around 4 million kilowatt of electricity . That equates to about a quarter of all the force used in New York StateandOntario .
8. They’re actually not that old
Niagara Falls are not as sometime as they attend , geologically . Niagara Falls was formed by the same frosty melt action which formed the Great Lakes at the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 years ago . For context , the Grand Canyon is believed to be between 5 and 6 million old age previous . That makes the fall seem like a spring chicken in comparison .
9. But they are OGs in the government
Niagara Falls is gerontological in term of US State Parks . A group of surround activist — including one of the notable landscape architects behind Central Park , Frederick Law Olmstead — further New York to bribe the land surrounding the parks to save up it from commercial using . This land was afterwards establish as the Niagara Reservation in 1885 .
10. The Falls are (maybe unsurprisingly) home to a lot of water
Because four of the five big lakes — Superior , Michigan , Huron , and Erie — flow into Niagara Falls , the gallon , liter ( or liter , on the Canadian side ) and short ton count on that flow water is quite high . About 3,160 ton of piss menstruum over Niagara Falls every second . With all five Great Lakes combined , the total amount of fresh water totals to almost one - fifth of the entire world ’s freshwater provision .
11. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise
rack up out your field glasses , The Niagara River Corridor was designated an Important Bird Area ( also experience as IBA ) by theNational Audubon Society . This river supports thousands of different bird coinage . And if you ’re interested in metal money beneath the airfoil , the modest Niagara River is also the home of New York State ’s endangered fish , the Lake Sturgeon .
12. The Falls are home to a local squirrel legend
accord to local traditional knowledge , in the other 1800s there were no contraband squirrel in Niagara Falls . At least on the United States side . Once the hiatus bridge was build across the river , however , the squirrels allegedly crossed and now eagle- ( or squirrel- ) eyed visitor can tell apart black squirrels on both sides of the Fall regardless of nationality .
Photo courtesy of Niagara Falls Tourism
