Niagara Falls consists of three separate waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls (or Canadian Falls), American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. According to the World Waterfalls Database, the height of horseshoe waterfall is about 167 feet (5 1 m), and the top width is over 2,700 feet (823 meters). The height of American waterfalls varies from 90 to 120 feet (27.5 to 36.5 meters), and the top span is about 940 feet (286.5 meters). The wedding waterfall also has a drop of 90 to 120 feet, but it is only 45 feet (14 meters) wide. The average width of the whole waterfall is 3950 feet (1, 204 meters). According to the travel channel,
These three waterfalls form the second largest waterfall in the world (after Victoria Falls in Africa). More than 6 million cubic feet (654.38+068 million cubic meters) or about 70 Olympic-sized swimming pools, water flows through the waterfalls every minute. According to the New York State Museum (NYSM), the water flows over the waterfall at a speed of 25 miles per hour. According to Niagara Park, the deepest place in niagara river is just below the horseshoe waterfall, with a depth of 167 feet (5 1 m), which is equal to the height of the waterfall. Niagara Grand Canyon starts at the foot of the waterfall and ends 7 miles (1 1 km) downstream of Lake Ontario. The cliff is as high as 1200 feet (366 meters) and was formed by thousands of years of erosion.
Niagara Falls flows into Niagara Grand Canyon, and the cliff rises about 65,438+0,200 feet from niagara river. (Timm Sharp) The evolution of Niagara Falls The geological forces that formed Niagara Falls began to operate in the last ice age about 65,438+06,000 years ago. According to the new york Stock Exchange, glaciers more than a mile thick cover the northern part of the North American continent from Ohio to new york. When the ice subsided, it drew the Great Lakes.
About 12000 years ago, a low-lying river was found in a dry lake, and a river-niagara river was drawn. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are divided into two parts: high altitude and low altitude. Water drains from the upper lake on the Niagara Cliff to the lower lake, eventually forming a waterfall.
When Niagara Falls formed, it was about 7 miles downstream (1 1 km). Even now, erosion still pushes the waterfall upstream at a rate of one foot per year. It is estimated that this river will erode back to Lake Erie in about 50,000 years, pass through cliffs and soft shale, and begin to drain Lake Erie.
Visitors can walk to the bottom of Bridal Veil Waterfall, and the American Waterfall is on the right. (Timm Sharp) According to the data of Niagara Falls, the history of Indian settlement in Niagara Falls is from 1300 to 1400. One of the earliest indigenous tribes called itself Onguiaahra, and French explorers called it Niagara. Daryun of Iroquois was one of the early settlers, and French explorers called them "neutral countries" because it kept peace between neighboring warring tribes. /kloc-At the beginning of the 6th century, the population of neutral countries was 20,000 to 40,000.
The first European to visit the waterfall may be the French explorer Etienne Bray, who lived in a neutral country from 65438 to 0626. However, he didn't leave any written record, but he reported to his patron Samuel de champlain that he had written an article about waterfalls. 1632, champlain was the first to draw and publish the map of Niagara. According to a trip to America, the description of the first witness was written by Louis Hennepin, a priest who accompanied Robert de * * * to the waterfall in 1678. 1679, the French built the first fort on Niagara Falls. According to Niagara Castle, this fortress is called Fort Conti. The fortress didn't last long. Fort Norvell was built in 1687. The fort lasted only about a year. Niagara Castle is the first permanent fortress, which was built in 1726. 1759, the French-Indian war broke out, and Niagara was all the British-occupied Niagara Fort. Niagara Fortress 1796 took control of the United States, 18 13 was retaken by Britain, and 18 12 was ceded to the United States after the war. From 18 13 to 1963, Niagara Fortress used to be a peaceful frontier post and a military camp and training station for American soldiers. Today, Niagara Fortress is a very popular place where tourists can stroll and visit waterfalls at the same time.
/kloc-At the beginning of the 20th century, more and more tourists visited the waterfalls, and the demand for additional facilities increased. According to new york Falls, hotels, resorts and other tourist attractions have mushroomed on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, while factories and mills on the American side are also under construction. 1820, the first human ferry was opened to transport passengers across Niagara Grand Canyon. Niagara Falls Museum 1827 opened, and Maiden in Fog 1846 opened to transport passengers, livestock and goods across the canyon. 1848 The first suspension bridge was opened to traffic, 1854 A railway extension line took the steam engine to the waterfall, 1855 A railway suspension bridge was opened to traffic, allowing trains to cross the canyon. 186 1 year, a canal was built to lead the river to the power plant. 1887, the first tram began to run. According to the information of Niagara Falls Underground Railway Heritage Area, Niagara Falls also became a part of the underground railway in the middle of18th century. Many residents are against slavery, which is part of the established network to help runaway slaves in this area. Many hotels in this area provide employment opportunities for more and more African Americans, including a large number of people who have recently got rid of slavery.
According to Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Reserve (including Niagara Falls) is the first state park in the United States established by 1885. The park covers more than 400 acres, of which about 140 acres are underwater.
According to the Tesla Memorial Hall, nikola tesla and George Westinghouse designed and built the world's first hydroelectric power plant in 1895, which brought clean electricity to the growing community. According to the Buffalo Library, electricity was even delivered to Buffalo, new york within a year.
According to the data of new york Falls, Niagara Falls in new york and Ontario merged at 1892 and 1903 respectively.
The areas on both sides of Niagara Falls in the United States and Canada have always been dominated by tourism. According to the report of Niagara Falls in Canada, nowadays, about120,000 tourists visit the waterfall every year, and the boat girl in the fog takes the tourists to the bottom of Huoshu Falls. (Timm Sharp) Special Effects
Starting from the tourist stunt first planned and recorded by 1827, dozens of people tried to make history by jumping or crossing waterfalls in some unconventional way. Some people succeeded, but unfortunately, some people didn't.
The first known stunt was arranged by William Foces of Exhibition Hall Hotel 1827. It involves decorating a ship as a pirate ship, putting some animals on board, including bison, two bears, two raccoons, a dog and a goose, and then sending them to the Waterfall, according to new york Waterfall. Two bears escaped before the boat capsized, but the rest went down the waterfall with the boat.
The first person who jumped from the waterfall was Sam Paige (also known as Yankee jumper) in 1829, when he dived 85 feet (26 meters) at horseshoe waterfall. He dived from a height of 135 feet (4 1 m) and survived diving again and again in the following week.
Charles Blondin was the first person to cross a canyon with a steel wire in 1859, according to new york Falls. He passed a rope 1 100 feet (335 meters) long, and it took him about 20 minutes to pass the waterfall at 160 feet (49 meters) above the canyon. Later, he performed many other stunts, including crossing the wire rope blindfolded and pushing a cart through.
Maria Spelterini, an Italian tightrope walker, was the first and only woman to cross a canyon with a tightrope in 1876. According to new york Falls, she wore an eye mask and a basket on her feet, and even once her hands and feet were tied and she repeated stunts.
1883, Matthew Webb, the captain, made his first attempt to cross the lower vortex rapids without any help. Unfortunately, according to new york Falls, he didn't succeed, and his body was found a few days later.
According to new york Falls, Anne Edersen Taylor, a teacher from Michigan, was the first person to cross the waterfall barrel. She was slightly injured and survived. 195 1 year,
Shortly after another failed attempt to climb the waterfall, Ontario outlawed any developmental disorder in the park. However, this law does not prevent occasional people from crossing or crossing waterfalls in some form.
Additional resources
Niagara Falls Information: Explore the history of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, new york, Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls Historical Facts: Niagara Falls.