Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls located in the southern part of the Niagara Gorge that straddles the border between Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States.
The largest of these three waterfalls is called “Horseshoe” and it is located exactly on the border between the two countries. It is also called Canadian Falls.
Two smaller waterfalls, “American Falls” and “Bridal Veil“, are located within the United States. The waterfall “Bridal Veil” is separated from the “Horseshoe” by Goat Island, and the “American Falls” is separated by Luna Island. Both islands are in the state of New York.
Formed by the Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, this combined waterfall has the highest discharge of any waterfall in North America with a vertical drop of over 50 meters .
During the peak hours of the falls during the day, more than 168,000 cubic meters of water per minute passes through its crest. The horseshoe is also the most powerful waterfall in North America in terms of flow rate.
Niagara Falls is known for its magnificent beauty and serves as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreation, commercial use and industrial use of this unique natural site has been a challenge for those who have managed it since the 19th century.
Niagara Falls is located 27 kilometers northwest of Buffalo, New York and 69 kilometers southeast of Toronto. This waterfall lies between the twin cities of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls in New York State, USA.
Niagara Falls was formed after the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the last ice age, when water from the newly formed Great Lakes began to break through the Niagara Escarpment, moving towards the Atlantic Ocean.