Millions of tons of water fall from the cliff where the Niagara River rushes from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario; deafening roar can be heard for many kilometers around.
A cloud of spray raised high in the air where the Niagara River is roaring and foaming in the boiler at the foot of the waterfall. This famous waterfall consists of two parts: the American and Horseshoe Falls. Between them is Goat Island - an island covered with trees in the middle of the river.
Better known, perhaps, Horseshoe Falls, which forms an arc length of 792 m, with the Canadian side of the border. The road running along the river, allows us to consider the vicinity, water, smooth surface that resembles a dark green glass, falling down a cliff, turns into white foam.
American Falls is less and forms a straight line length of about 300 m. At the foot of the American Falls are fragments of rock, as opposed to the bare cliff Horseshoe Falls. The height of the two waterfalls about 50 m.
Niagara Falls there are only about 10,000 years - a relatively short period in the geological term. When the last ice age ended, massive glaciers retreating, leaving behind the Great Lakes. Due to the nature of the river system water flows out of Lake Erie at 56 km in the Niagara River lying 100 m. Below Lake Ontario. From Lake Ontario flows, in turn, the river St. Lawrence.
Above the falls the river bed runs through the hard dolomite, under which, however, are softer rock - slate and sandstone. Initially the river crashes down a cliff about 11 km. north of the present location of the waterfall, but as fast during eroded the softer underlying rocks, dolomite collapses. Step-by-step waterfall receded, leaving behind a deep gorge, and today is far from the place where was born 10,000 years ago. Falls recede by about 1 m. Per year, and is now at 305 m. Upstream of the place where the French explorer Louis Ennepe saw it back in 1678. However, there is Goat Island River divided in half; moreover, at least half the water Niagara reserved for electricity production - all this means that the waterfall is now much more stable than it was in the past.
With bridges and parking lots on both sides of the river a beautiful view; One of the most popular bridges - the Rainbow Bridge (Rainbow), named because of the rainbow, playing in the spray of a waterfall. The true extent and power of Niagara's most clearly appear from the boats dare go into the rushing water at the foot of the waterfall.