| You've probably heard of Niagara Falls but how | | | | cubic mile every week. |
| much do you really know about it? You will learn | | | | 10. The Falls have taken 12,000 years to erode |
| about twenty trivia facts about the Falls. You will | | | | the seven miles from Queenston Heights, where |
| discover the answers to these questions and | | | | they began, to their present position. But the Falls |
| more - How tall is it? How deep is it? How high is | | | | separated around Goat Island only 600 years ago. |
| it? What does it comprise of? Who owns it? How | | | | 11. The Niagara River drains 255,000 square miles |
| much does it erode? How much water flows over | | | | of mid-continental North America. |
| it? Where is it? What's gone over it? | | | | 12. With power requirements and anti-erosion |
| Here are some interesting facts about Niagara | | | | measures, erosion has been reduced to less than |
| Falls, mostly taken from Metromap Publication's | | | | one foot a year. |
| Street Map Guide to the Regional Municipality of | | | | 13. The whirlpool is 126 feet deep at the water |
| Niagara: | | | | level. The water spins around in a |
| 1. The Falls at Niagara cannot claim to be the | | | | counterclockwise direction. |
| highest or the widest in the world, or even to | | | | 14. The water depth of the lower rapids is 45 - |
| have the greatest flow of water. The Iguazu Falls | | | | 60 feet, with currents of up to 30 m.p.h. |
| on the Paraguay-Brazil-Argentina borders surpass | | | | 15. The drop from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is |
| Niagara Falls on all three counts. But Niagara's are | | | | 330 feet depending on seasonal water levels. |
| the world's most popular. | | | | 16. Seven people have gone of the Horseshoe |
| 2. From the water level to the crest, the | | | | Falls in a barrel. Four lived, three died. |
| American Falls are 182 feet high, the Horseshoe | | | | 17. Only two living things have been seen to go |
| 176 feet high. | | | | over the Falls safely without special protection - a |
| 3. Ten percent of the water flows over the | | | | dog over the American Falls in the 1800's and a |
| American and Luna Falls, 90% over the | | | | boy over the Horseshoe Falls in 1960. |
| Horseshoe Falls. | | | | 18. Five large boats and innumerable small ones |
| 4. There are actually three Falls: American | | | | have gone over the Falls, many with people in |
| (Rainbow), Luna (Bridal Veil) and Horseshoe. | | | | them. |
| 5. The U.S. owns all, or part, of all three, while | | | | 19. A free swimmer has never conquered the |
| most of the Horseshoe Falls belong to Canada. | | | | lower rapids. |
| Niagara Falls is located 23 miles northwest of | | | | 20. Before his death in 1942, the famous Red Hill |
| Buffalo, New York and 79 miles southeast of | | | | saved 28 people from death over the Falls and |
| Toronto, Ontario. | | | | salvaged 149 bodies of those that didn't make it. |
| 6. Today 50% of the Niagara River never makes | | | | He accumulated more lifesaving medals than |
| it to the Falls: it is diverted for power. This | | | | anyone else in the world. |
| percentage increases to 75% at night and in the | | | | As you can see, many facts have been compiled |
| winter months. | | | | about Niagara Falls over the years but at least |
| 7. The Falls have eroded an average of 3.78 feet | | | | you probably now know considerably more than |
| year since 1842. Since the beginning there has | | | | you did before about this amazing spectacle. You |
| always been a large spread of water on the | | | | can either tell others that are planning to visit the |
| approach to the Falls. | | | | Falls what you have learned, or you can plan to |
| 8. The Niagara River is not a river it is a strait. | | | | see it yourself now that you are an expert on |
| 9. One and a half million gallons of water flow | | | | the subject! |
| through the Niagara River every second, or one | | | | |