Niagara Fall

The Niagara Falls are located on the border of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. The Niagara Falls are made up of 3 waterfalls, the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. The Horseshoe Falls are the largest and the Bridal Veil Falls the smallest. The 3 waterfalls combine to produce the highest flow rate of any waterfall on earth. The largest vertical drop is over 165 feet (50 metres). The Niagara Falls were created by glacier activity around 10000 years ago. The Niagara Falls are a source of hydropower, producing large amounts of electricity. Hydroelectric stations in the area divert less water during the summer when tourist numbers are high, ensuring a spectacular flow of water for visitors. The Niagara River drains water from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. At the current rate of erosion, scientists believe that the Niagara Falls will be gone in around 50000 years, luckily you still have time to see them! It is illegal (and not very smart) to go over the Niagara Falls. A number of people have tried it anyway, some survived, some were injured and some were killed. The first tightrope walker to cross the Niagara Falls did so in 1859. In 2012 Nik Wallenda became the first person to cross the Niagara Falls by tightrope in 116 years. He did so after receiving permission from both the Canadian and United States governments, although he was required to carry his passport and present it on entry to the Canadian side of the falls. The Niagara Falls have long been a popular tourist destination, boosted by a number of movies featuring the falls and even a daring performance by famous Illusionist David Copperfield in 1990. Goat Island sits in the middle of the Niagara Falls, between Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. A monument dedicated to Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla sits on Goat Island. The Niagara Falls are visited by around 30 million people every year. The Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States (1885).