Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls that span the border between the states of New York and Ontario. The largest of the falls, Horseshoe Falls, spans the international boundary between the two countries. These majestic falls are located at the southern tip of the Niagara Gorge. They have fascinated visitors for centuries.
Geologic formation
The rocks in the Niagara Falls area are a result of sedimentary rock formation during the Upper Ordovician to Devonian periods. During this period, the eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada were covered by a shallow tropical sea. They are formed in distinct layers and contain a remarkable diversity of marine fossils.
These layers are reflected in the different thicknesses of the rock layers that are visible from the surface. For example, the shale layer is about a metre thick at Goat Island. The limestone layer below this island is only fourteen feet thick, while the underlying shale layer is nearly 21 metres thick. The limestone layer remains this thickness for another eight kilometers, until it reaches Queenston.
The escarpment is another important feature that helped create the Niagara Falls. This escarpment was formed by cycles of shallow seas. As these ebbed and flowed, they carried sediments westward. The sediments eventually formed huge mud deltas. Over the centuries, this sediment accumulated and cemented in the water. The resulting rock layers are the caprock of the Niagara Escarpments.
Glacial melt waters originating in Wisconsin, about 10,000 years ago, created the Niagara Falls. Glacial meltwaters also created the Great Lakes. In addition, St David’s Buried Gorge, near the Welland Canal, is thought to have formed as the result of glacial activity. Regardless of the geologic origins of the Niagara Falls, the area surrounding the Falls has changed dramatically since the Ice Age.
The lower Niagara River was originally 19 kilometers long and flowed at a rate of about twenty percent of what it is today. The Great Lakes were once covered with about half a million cubic feet of water.
Geologic maintenance
Geologic maintenance at Niagara falls is the process of preserving the land beneath the falls. This process drew public attention because of the sweeping beauty of the falls. The US Army Corps of Engineers began the work of dewatering the falls in 1969, preventing further erosion of the historic landmark. The dewatering process allowed scientists to study the rock formations below the American and Bridal Veil falls. Scientists are currently comparing old photographs with new ones, and they hope to learn more about the formation of the falls.
Although the waterfalls are no longer eroding as quickly as in years past, erosion is still a concern. While flow control and diversion for hydroelectric generation has reduced the rate of erosion, it is still estimated to be a foot a year. And, climate change models predict that the watershed surrounding the falls could become drier in the future, slowing down the rate of erosion.
In the 1950s, governments in the US and Canada began negotiating a treaty that would allow various remedial works to be completed in the waters near the falls, to reduce erosion and mask the visual effects. Engineers sought to achieve “the illusion of volume” as water went over the waterfall. The solution was to spread the flow evenly along the lip of a cataract, so that it appears to go over the top of the waterfall.
The Great Lakes have the largest freshwater system in the world, with a combined volume of 18 percent of the world’s surface water. At its full volume, the Great Lakes contain enough water to cover North America.
Hydroelectric power production
Hydroelectric power production at Niagara Falls began in the 1920s. It was the last low-head hydroelectric power station in the world and was purchased by the Fortis Incorporated Power Group in 2000. The Niagara Falls power station replaced two power stations owned by the Toronto Power Company and the Electrical Development Company.
The Niagara Falls Commission spearheaded the power project and sought proposals from experts worldwide. The Commission rejected every one of these proposals, especially the DC electricity proposals. The Commission was led by Lord Kelvin, who was opposed to alternating current until he attended the Chicago Exposition. Afterward, he converted.
The hydroelectric dam at Niagara Falls has thirteen turbines with a total capacity of 2,300 megawatts. These turbines are fed by a 1,900-acre reservoir. The reservoir holds about 22 billion gallons of water. The Falls are protected by the Boundary Waters Treaty, which limits the amount of water diverted from the Falls.
Nikola Tesla is a Croatian inventor who made significant contributions to the evolution of electricity. He also played an important role in the development of radio and electromagnetism. His work on AC motors, alternating current, and the polyphase distribution system helped shape the world we live in today. Tesla also helped develop the first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls.
To produce clean hydroelectricity, the power plant at Niagara Falls diverts water from a high point in the Niagara River through a series of tunnels. At an elevation of about 100 meters, water falls onto turbines, which are connected to electromagnets in a stationary wire coil. The turbines then produce electricity, which is transmitted to the grid over power cables.
Symbolism
Niagara Falls has symbolic meaning for both Americans and Canadians. As the HONEYMOON capital of the world, Niagara Falls symbolizes love, sex, and marriage. It is also associated with the color violet, a symbol of mystery and political energy. The mists rising above the falls are also symbolic, conveying a sense of mystery.
The majesty of the falls has long inspired artists and writers. The painting “Niagara Falls” by Frederic Edwin Church, an American landscape painter, evokes the expanse and power of nature. This painting is so iconic that it is in the public domain. The painting’s enormous success helped establish Frederic Edwin Church as one of the greatest American painters of his time. The painting was purchased by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1876, and its success inspired other major artists to seek representation in the collection.
In mythology and literature, water often plays a prominent role. Throughout history, water has been a symbol of life and death. In other cultures, water symbolizes the yin and yang of life. It also symbolizes impermanence. Though it continues to flow, it is never the same.
The waterfall was formed when glaciers began to retreat from the area. This retreated ice caused great torrents of water to spill over the Niagara Escarpment and into the Niagara River. The falling water now carved away the bedrock below. This process is known as the ‘Falls of Niagara’.
Symbolism of North America
In the 18th century, fear and awe were the dominant emotions felt by Europeans at Niagara Falls. Only in the early 19th century did Niagara Falls begin to become a popular tourist destination. Church used the falls to portray the awe and scope of his painting. He also chose an unusual format of a panorama painting that gave viewers the feeling of being close to the falls.
During the early 20th century, the Falls’ natural beauty was often seen as a symbol of spirituality, marriage, technological progress, and American identity. By the early twentieth century, the waterfall had established a reputation as a perfect honeymoon destination. In the decades since, newlyweds have flocked to Niagara Falls to celebrate their new status as husband and wife.
The falls are located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. The Horseshoe Falls, the largest waterfall in North America, was created when glaciers retreated from the area during the last ice age. This flow carved a path through the bedrock of the Niagara Escarpment, allowing water to flow from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Niagara Falls are a national icon and have a strong symbolic meaning since American independence. The beauty of the Niagara Falls continues to attract visitors and inspire wonderment. Even after the waters recede, the falls’ power remains a mystery that has spawned endless interpretations. The waterfalls have long been a popular tourist destination for Americans, with the construction of railroads making it accessible to the general public.
A Native American legend describes Lelawala, a beautiful maid who was betrothed to a brave man she despised. To gain the blessing of He-No, the Thunder God, who inhabited the cave behind the Horseshoe Falls, the beautiful Lelawala decided to sacrifice herself. She paddled her canoe into the river current, where she fell over the falls. He-No then caught her spirit and sent it to his cave behind the falls.
