The Area of Interest – Niagara Falls

Considered one of the seven forgotten wonders of the world, Niagara Falls is a breathtaking tourist destination. Located on the Niagara River, it acts as an international water barrier separating the United States from Canada. It is composed of two major sections, the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, and the American Falls on the U.S. side. These two sections are separated by Goat Island, a popular destination on the American side accessible by foot, car or trackless train. It derives its name from a herd of goats that was kept on the island in the late 1700s, but due to an extremely harsh winter, only one goat survived. Also included in Niagara Falls is another smaller waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls. At its base is the Cave of the Winds which provides a protective barrier from the runoff – and is a very kitschy place for people to get married – hence its name. The name Niagara is believed to be derived from “Niagagarega” who were a local branch of the Iroquois Nation that resided in the area when French settlers arrived in the 1700s.

The Falls exist because of the Niagara escarpment, a steep slope cause by erosion or faulting that separated two areas with differing elevations. It is believed that this escarpment was formed over 400 million years ago, and that the Niagara Falls began around twelve-thousand years ago. The escarpment is so steep that at a point near Lewiston, New York the slope rises 240 feet in a quarter mile. The features that became Niagara Falls are born of the Wisconsin Glaciation; the same forces that also created the Great Lakes and the Niagara River. The Wisconsin Glacier covered the Niagara area nearly 40,000 years ago, and began to recede roughly 32,000 years ago.

The Niagara River delivers 1.5 million U.S. gallons of water per second, and this is partly what makes the Falls the largest electricity producer in New York. It harnesses 2.4-gigawatts of power, and up to 375,000 gallons of water per second is diverted to two power plants in New York. The most powerful hydroelectric stations on the Niagara River are the Sir Adam Beck 1 & 2 on the Canadian side and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant on the U.S. side. Together they produce about 4.4-gigawatts of power.

It is estimated that nearly 28 million people visit Niagara Falls each year – there are approximately 3 million people that visit Yellowstone National Park each year for a reference point. With all of these visitors, there is concern for preservation of this beloved landmark. In 1969, the Falls were dammed to fix some problems with erosion; and today there is speculation that infrastructure and urban sprawl in the area has led to a change in wind direction. But, for the most part, geologists and preservationists alike are conscious of the Falls’ needs and watch it carefully to assure that this wonder will continue to provide its breathtaking beauty.

This 50-cm Natural Color image was captured on May 25, 2011 by WorldView-2. It is a spectacular view of the rush of water going over the Niagara Falls. This imagery has been processed with eMap’s proprietary technique, ImageBoost. (Image courtesy: DigitalGlobe)



Justin Harmon
Senior Editor


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