By Chad Hagy
Niagara Falls is one of the most visited places in North America. By knowing a few things about this famous attraction, you can appreciate it and enjoy it more the next time you visit.
Sections
There are two sections of Niagara Falls. The Horseshoe Falls section is about 2,600 feet wide with a drop of about 173 feet on the Canadian side. The American Falls has a drop of up to 100 feet and spans 1,060 feet across.
Creation
The Wisconsin glaciations, which occurred about 10,000 years ago, created the Niagara Falls.
Erosion
Due to erosion over the years, the crest of Niagara Falls has moved nearly seven miles southward.
Function
The water from Niagara Falls is used for several purposes by more than one million people in the surrounding region. People use the water from the falls for power generation, recreation, fishing, drinking water and more.
Tourism
More than 20 million people visited Niagara Falls in 2008. There are several tourist attractions that take visitors over the falls, under the falls and behind the falls. The Maid of the Mist boat attraction is one of the oldest North American tourist attractions and continues to be the most popular way to experience Niagara Falls.
About the Author:
Chad Hagy is based in southern California and he has been a full-time freelance writer since 2006. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a specialization in writing from the University of Michigan and his articles have been published on several prominent websites including eHow and others.
