Here some facts about the Niagara Falls.
- Niagara Falls is made up of three separate waterfalls on the Niagara River, located on the US / Canada border, about 17 miles from Buffalo, and 75 miles from Toronto.
- The three different waterfalls are: the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Falls (named so because it looks like a bridal veil). The name Niagara probably comes from an Iroquois name, meaning thunderous waters.
- The largest fall, Horseshoe Falls is about 790 yards wide, and the water drops about 53 yards. In some places, the water is traveling at close to 70 mph.
- Around 750,000 gallons of water falls over Niagara Falls every second. The volume can vary, depending on weather conditions and the time of year.
- Because of rock being eroded, Niagara Falls has actually moved backwards about 12 miles during the last 12,000 years. Geologists predict that in 50,000 years time, the falls will have disappeared.
- One of the most famous features is the whirlpool, caused by water traveling through a narrow gorge. The whirlpool is 1,700 feet long and up to 125 feet deep.
- During winter, ice bridges can form across the Niagara River, and up until 1912, visitors could walk on these. In winter, 1888, an estimated 20,000 people walked or sledded on the ice.
- About 28 million people visit Niagara Falls every year. One of the best ways to see the falls is by boat, in The Maid of the Mist, named after a mythical Indian character.
- Several people have walked across Niagara Falls on a high tightrope. The daredevil Blondin carried his manager across on his back, and in June, 2012, Nik Wallenda walked across, an event watched on live TV by millions.
- In 1901, a 63 year old teacher went over the falls in a barrel and survived unharmed. Since then, several other people have fallen over the falls without a barrel or a life jacket and have survived.
