Niagara Falls

This article is about the waterfalls on the Canada–United States border. For other uses, see Niagara Falls (disambiguation).

Niagara Falls
High view of Niagara Falls as viewed from the Canadian side of the river. The image includes American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Falls seen from the Canadian side of the river, including three individual falls (from left to right): American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Falls is located in Southern Ontario
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is located in New York
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
LocationNiagara River into the Niagara Gorge on the border of New York in the United States and Ontario in Canada
Coordinates43°04′48″N 79°04′29″W / 43.0799°N 79.0747°W / 43.0799; -79.0747 (Niagara Falls)
TypeCataract
Total height167 ft (51 m)
Number of drops3
WatercourseNiagara River
Average
flow rate		85,000 cu ft/s (2,400 m3/s)

Niagara Falls (/naɪˈæɡərə, -ɡrə/ ny-AGG-ər-ə, -⁠grə) is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, which straddles the international border of the two countries.[1] It is also known as the Canadian Falls.[2] The smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie within the United States. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island, with both islands situated in New York.

Formed by the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario before flowing out to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River, the combined falls have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 50 m (160 ft). During peak daytime tourist hours, more than 168,000 m3 (5.9 million cu ft) of water goes over the crest of the falls every minute.[3] Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate.[4] Niagara Falls is famed for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.

Niagara Falls is 27 km (17 mi) northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 69 km (43 mi) southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path over and through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.

  1. ^ "Niagara Falls". britannica.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Berton, Pierre (2009). Niagara: A History of the Falls. SUNY Press. pp. 1, 20–21. ISBN 978-1-4384-2928-1. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Niagara Falls Geology Facts and Figures". Niagara Parks. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "City Profile for Niagara Falls, Ontario". Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2008.