By Jennifer Olvera
Niagara Falls is located in southeastern Ontario in the town of Niagara,
Canada, which is a port along the Niagara River opposite Niagara Falls,
New York. There are actually two falls, the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, the latter of which is located in Canada.
Second Largest Falls
Niagara Falls is the second largest falls, the largest being Victoria Falls in Africa. It's 180 feet high, and it carries about nine times more water than the U.S. falls.
How They Were Formed
Niagara Falls are the result of the same melting glaciers that formed the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, which flows to Lake Ontario. The rushing waters carved a river, which passed over the Niagara escarpment to form the falls.
Speed
Niagara Falls flows at a rate of about 35 miles per hour (56.3 kilometers per hour) with approximately 6 million cubic feet of water flowing over its crestline per minute during the day.
Electricity
Niagara Falls is a source of hydro-electricity. There are two power stations, Sir Adam Beck 1 and Sir Adam Beck 2, which help supply power to the southern portion of Ontario and western portion of New York.
Attractions
Niagara Falls is home to many attractions beyond the falls themselves, including a butterfly conservatory, Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and IMAX theater.
About the Author:
Jennifer Olvera, a DePaul grad, has been writing professionally--and covering topics from health to weddings, shopping and the green scene--for over a decade. In addition to penning international travel features for Chicago Tribune, LA Times and Frommers.com, she has become one of the preeminent dining, food, and entertainment writers in Chicago. Jennifer's work has regularly appeared in Zagat and Chicago Sun-Times as well as on Citysearch.com and Gayot.com.
