Niagara Falls and its three great cascades

Niagara Falls spans the border between New York and Ontario, with three distinct waterfalls carved into the Niagara Gorge that reward close, careful exploration.

Niagara Falls is a set of three powerful waterfalls on the Niagara River, marking the border between the U.S. state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. Together, Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls plunge from the edge of the Niagara Gorge and have shaped the surrounding landscape for generations.

The border river and the Niagara Gorge

The Niagara River carries water from Lake Erie towards Lake Ontario, cutting a deep gorge where the ground drops away and the waterfalls form. At Niagara Falls the river serves as part of the international boundary between New York in the United States and Ontario in Canada, with the line of the border running through the river itself.border between New York and Ontario On both banks, the city of Niagara Falls has grown up around the rim of the gorge, one municipality in New York and another in Ontario, each with streets that end abruptly at railings overlooking the drop.location along the Niagara River

The edge of the falls forms a broken line rather than a single continuous curtain. Islands in the river, including Goat Island and Luna Island, divide the flow of water into separate channels before it reaches the brink, creating distinct cascades with their own outlines and viewing points.islands separating the waterfalls Below, the Niagara Gorge continues downstream as a steep-sided corridor, with rock faces exposed above swirling water and patches of vegetation clinging to ledges.

Horseshoe Falls: the Canadian arc of water

Horseshoe Falls, sometimes called the Canadian Falls, is the largest of the three waterfalls and curves in a broad arc on the downstream edge of Goat Island.Horseshoe Falls as the largest cascade The crest of Horseshoe Falls runs between Terrapin Point on the United States side and Table Rock on the Canadian side, following the outline of the gorge. From above, the water appears to slide smoothly over the lip before dropping into a deep basin where spray rises continuously.arc-shaped crest of Horseshoe Falls

Much of the river’s volume passes over Horseshoe Falls, and its height is widely documented as around 57 m (187 ft) from crest to river level below.height and scale of Horseshoe Falls The width of the crest extends for hundreds of metres, and tour boats enter the basin to give a water-level view of the falling river. On the rim, railings line walkways where visitors can look down into the gorge and see the contrast between the smooth water above the lip and the turbulent flow below.

American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the New York side

On the U.S. side of the river, American Falls drops from the edge of the gorge in a more linear curtain of water. It lies between Prospect Point and Luna Island, and the water lands on a wide pile of boulders at the base, which breaks up the falling river into many separate streams.location of American Falls The face of American Falls is shorter than the drop at Horseshoe Falls once the talus is taken into account, but the combination of cliff, rock pile and mist gives this section of the gorge its own character.boulder pile below American Falls

Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest of the three, is separated from American Falls by Luna Island and shares the same general height from crest to base.Bridal Veil Falls beside American Falls Its narrower crest produces a thinner curtain of water that has invited comparisons with a folded veil, and paths and platforms on the New York side bring visitors closer to this part of the river. From these points the layering of features becomes clear: the separate streams of Bridal Veil Falls, the heavier flow of American Falls and, in the distance, the arc of Horseshoe Falls.

Visiting Niagara Falls: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Niagara Falls lies along the Niagara River between the city of Niagara Falls, New York, in the United States and Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada. It is reached by road and rail links from regional centres such as Buffalo on the U.S. side and Toronto on the Canadian side.
• The ground around the waterfalls falls away sharply into the Niagara Gorge, with paths and viewing areas often following the cliff edge. Approaches involve walking on paved surfaces with railings, steps and changes in level.
• The river marks the border between the United States and Canada. The official languages are English in both countries, and the currencies are the U.S. dollar in New York and the Canadian dollar in Ontario.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Niagara Falls

Where is Niagara Falls located?

Niagara Falls sits on the Niagara River on the border between New York State in the United States and Ontario in Canada, beside the twin cities of Niagara Falls.

What can visitors expect when they first see the waterfalls?

Visitors see three distinct waterfalls dropping into the Niagara Gorge, with railings, paths and platforms on both sides of the river giving views of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

What makes Niagara Falls distinctive among major waterfalls?

Niagara Falls is distinctive for the way three cascades occupy a single gorge, with Horseshoe Falls spanning the international border and American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lying entirely on the New York side.