Niagara Falls: Panoramic View

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Niagara Falls Panoramic View
Here we see pictured the 3 falls that
compose Niagara Falls the American, Bridal
Veil, and Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls
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Niagara Falls History
Niagara Falls is located along the Niagara
River which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Since Lake Erie is 100 meters higher than Lake
Ontario, water flows downhill from Lake Erie to
Lake Ontario, over Niagara Falls. The last ice
age left the upper four Great Lakes perched on a
high plateau. About 12,000 years ago, water
began to flow over the Niagara Escarpment
(located about 11 kilometers downstream from the
present-day falls) and formed the first falls
there. Because of erosion, the falls moved
upstream from there to their current position.
Because the top of the falls is a hard dolomite
rock underlain by a weaker shale and limestone
layer, the weaker layers erode first and then the
dolomite blocks fall down vertically, allowing
the falls to remain vertical.
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Niagara Gorge
As Niagara Falls eroded from the
Niagara Escarpment (cliff) back to its present
day location, it left behind this gorge.
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American Falls
The American Falls are located on the
American side of the Niagara River, near Buffalo,
NY. The falls are 167 feet high and 1,000 feet
across.
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Canadian Horseshoe Falls
The Horseshoe Falls are located on the
Canadian side of the Niagara River. The falls are
162 feet high and 2,600 feet wide. The
International Control Works above the rapids
have diverted water away from the sides to
minimize erosion there and maintain the
horseshoe shape.
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Goat Island
Goat Island separates the American and Canadian
Falls. Tourists can drive out on this island to
get great views of the falls and rapids above the
falls.
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Rainbow Bridge
This bridge is an international bridge
connecting Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls,
Ontario. The Ontario side has become a major
tourist area.
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Maid of the Mist View(1)
This fleet of boats has been taking
tourists under the falls since 1846.
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Maid of the Mist View(2)
Here we can see the bottom of the American Falls.
Notice the rocks at the bottom, a product of
erosion. Before the International Control
Works, the rate of erosion was about 5 feet per
year, but that has now been slowed to a small
fraction of that.
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Maid of the Mist View(3)
Here we see the American Falls (on left), and
the small Bridal Veil Falls (on right). The
land separating these two falls is called Luna
Island.
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Maid of the Mist View(4)
Here we see the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls and
mist. Each second, 2,800 cubic meters of water
go over Niagara Falls, 90 of which goes over
Horseshoe Falls. During night and non- tourist
seasons, about 50 of this flow is diverted for
use in hydroelectric power.
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Incline Railroad
This railroad takes tourists from the hotel
areas above the Canadian Falls down to Table
Rock House, site of Journey behind the Falls.
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Horseshoe Falls seen from Table Rock observation
deck
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Journey behind the Falls
From this portal, tourists can view the
Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls close up. Adjacent
portals connected by tunnels allow tourists to go
directly behind the falls.
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Top of American Falls(1)
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Top of American Falls(2)
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Top of American Falls(3)
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Rapids above American Falls
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Horseshoe Falls as seen from Goat Island
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Rapids above Horseshoe Falls