Interesting Niagara Facts
The word Niagara comes from the word "onguiaahra" which means "a thundering noise".
Four of the five Great Lakes drain into the Niagara River, (Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie) before emptying into Lake Ontario. These five Great Lakes make up almost one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply.
Power generation facilities along the Niagara River supply more than one-quarter of all power used in New York State and Ontario. About 50 to 75 percent of the water is redirected from travelling over the Falls in order to drive large hydro-electric turbines that produce electricity.
The Niagara River flows at approximately 35 miles/hour (56.3 kilometers/hour).
Niagara Falls Ontario Canada is known as the Honeymoon Capital of the world.
Niagara Falls is comprised of three waterfalls, from largest to smallest, the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls), American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls are 180 feet (57 meters) high and allow 6 million cubic feet (168,000 cubic meters) of water over the crestline every minute during peak daytime tourist hours (that is about a million bathtubs full of water every minute!).
The flow of water over Niagara Falls is reduced during the night to allow more of the water to flow into intakes used for power generation. This is regulated under an international treaty, to ensures that the Falls’ natural beauty remains unaffected during prime viewing hours.
Blondin was a famous funambulist (tight-rope walker) who performed numerous crossings of the gorge in Niagara Falls during the mid 1800s. Blondin performed endless stunts on the high-wire, from crossing blindfolded to carrying a cooking stove and preparing an omelet on the high wire. Most spectacularly, was the stunt during which Blondin carried on his back Harry Colcord his 148-pound manager August 19, 1859.
Until 1886, when the Statue of Liberty was erected, the Falls at Niagara were the symbol of America and the New World. Visitors from all over the world targeted Niagara as a must-see during a visit to North America.
Annie Edson Taylor "Queen of the Mist", a 63-year-old school teacher from Bay City Michigan was first person to travel over the Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901. She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls in an area called Stunters Rest, along with other Niagara Falls daredevils.
In 1960, Roger Woodward was the boy who had survived a descent over the Niagara Falls after a boating accident above the Falls.
Currently, Niagara Falls wears its way back another approximately 1 foot/year.
The Minolta Tower in Niagara Falls rises 325 feet above the Horseshoe Falls.
The Skylon Tower rises 775 feet above the Niagara Falls.
An "Old Scow" (a steel barge) remains stranded a few hundred meters above the Niagara Falls and has been marooned there since August 6, 1918 when a near tragedy was averted by three men who opened the dumping hatches of the barge to let water in and ground the out-of control boat.
An "Old Scow" (a steel barge) remains stranded a few hundred meters above the Niagara Falls and has been marooned there since August 6, 1918 when a near tragedy was averted by three men who opened the dumping hatches of the barge to let water in and ground the out-of control boat.
