Niagara Falls Project, Vlad, Paul

7/28/2019 Niagara Falls Project, Vlad, Paul

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The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the

international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of

New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75

miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara

Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe

Falls, the majority of whichtwo-thirds according to the US Geological Surveylies on

the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side. The smaller

Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by

Luna Island.

Niagara Falls were 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 through

the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high,

the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m) of water

falls over the crest line every minute in high flow,[2] and almost 4 million cubic feet

(110,000 m) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of

hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and

industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.


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Niagara Falls is divided into the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. The

Horseshoe Falls drop about 173 feet (53 m), the height of the American Falls varies

between 70100 feet (2130 m) because of the presence of giant boulders at its base.

The larger Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (790 m) wide, while the American Falls

are 1,060 feet (320 m) wide.

The volume of water approaching the falls during peak flow season may sometimes be

as much as 202,000 cubic feet (5,700 m3) per second. Since the flow is a direct

function of the Lake Erie water elevation, it typically peaks in late spring or early

summer. During the summer months, 100,000 cubic feet (2,800 m3) per second of

water actually traverses the Falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls,

while the balance is diverted to hydroelectric facilities. This is accomplished by

employing a weir with movable gates upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. The Fallsflow is further halved at night, and during the low tourist season in the winter, remains a

flat 50,000 cubic feet (1,400 m3) per second. Water diversion is regulated by the 1950

Niagara Treaty and is administered by the International Niagara Board of Control .

Viewpoints on the American shore generally are astride or behind the falls. The falls

face directly toward the Canadian shore.


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The features that became Niagara Falls were created by the Wisconsin glaciation,

about 10,000 years ago. The same forces also created the North American Great Lakes

and the Niagara River. All were dug by a continental ice sheet that drove through the

area, deepening some river channels to form lakes, and damming others with debris.

Scientists believe that there is an old valley, buried by glacial drift, at the approximate

location of the present Welland Canal.

When the ice melted, the upper Great Lakes emptied into the Niagara River, which

followed the rearranged topography across the Niagara Escarpment. In time, the river

cut a gorge through the north facing cliff, or cuesta. Because of the interactions of three

major rock formations, the rocky bed did not erode evenly. The top rock formation was

composed of erosion-resistant limestone and Lockport dolostone. That hard layer ofstone eroded more slowly than the underlying materials. The aerial photo clearly shows

the hard caprock, the Lockport Formation (Middle Silurian), which underlies the rapids

above the Falls, and approximately the upper third of the high gorge wall.

Immediately below the hard-rock formation, comprising about two thirds of the cliff, lay

the weaker, softer, sloping Rochester Formation (Lower Silurian). This formation was

composed mainly of shale, though it has some thin limestone layers. It also contains

ancient fossils. In time, the river eroded the soft layer that supported the hard layers,

undercutting the hard caprock, which gave way in great chunks. This process repeated

countless times, eventually carving out the Falls.


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The Niagara Falls at one time in history was located between present-day Queenston,

Ontario, and Lewiston, New York, but erosion of their crest has caused the waterfalls to

retreat approximately 6.8 miles or 11 kilometers southward. The Horseshoe Falls, whichare approximately 2,600 feet (790 m) wide, have also changed their shape through the

process of erosion; evolving from a small arch, to a horseshoe bend, to the present day

gigantic inverted V. Just upstream from the Falls' current location, Goat Island splits the

course of the Niagara River, resulting in the separation of the Canadian Horseshoe

Falls to the west from the American and Bridal Veil Falls to the east. Engineering has

slowed erosion and recession.


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I and Vlad arrived yesterday. We have found a hotel near the

Niagara Falls. I want to stay here three days but Vlad says

to stay just two days because it will be boring Ive said

O.K Tomorrow will be the days when we will see theNiagara Falls, I heard last year someone saying it is really

cool at night. At the night there are a lot of lights and it looks

like an rainbow.

Next day will be boring but we will found something to do

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Niagara Falls Project, Vlad, Paul