Niagara Falls and its three great curtains of water

Niagara Falls, straddling the United States and Canada, is a trio of powerful waterfalls on the Niagara River that has carved a deep gorge over thousands of years.

Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls on the Niagara River between the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada, where water dropping from the Niagara Escarpment has carved a striking gorge over thousands of years.

The three waterfalls that form Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is made up of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, which share the same river drop but form separate curtains of water because of islands in the river above the brink.three separate waterfalls Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is the largest segment and arcs around a plunge pool on the Canadian side of the river, while American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie entirely within the United States on the New York bank.Horseshoe Falls is also known as the Canadian Falls

Horseshoe Falls has a vertical drop in the region of 57 m (188 ft) to the river below, making it the tallest of the three falls, while the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls share a similar height to the river but appear lower where talus boulders have accumulated at their base.vertical plunge of 57 metres The three waterfalls form a combined crest that stretches for more than 1 km (over 3,000 ft) from the American extremity to the Canadian extremity, with the wide curve of Horseshoe Falls providing many of the familiar panoramas associated with Niagara Falls.distance between the American and Canadian extremities

River, gorge and geological setting

The Niagara River carries water from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, dropping over the Niagara Escarpment at Niagara Falls and then cutting through the Niagara Gorge, which records the upstream migration of the waterfalls over thousands of years.waters draining the Great Lakes carved the Niagara River During the last great glaciation a thick sheet of ice covered the region, and meltwater from the newly formed Great Lakes began to flow over a low point in the escarpment around 12,000 years ago, creating a knickpoint that developed into Niagara Falls as erosion cut a channel back towards Lake Erie.waterfall started to form about 12,000 years ago

Over roughly 12,000 years the crest of Niagara Falls has migrated upstream by several kilometres, leaving a deep gorge with near-vertical walls formed in layers of sedimentary rock, where a cap of resistant Lockport Dolomite overlays softer shales and other units.Niagara Falls has eroded 11.4 kilometres The contact between stronger and weaker rocks contributes to the development of the cliff edge and the plunge pools below the falls, and retreat rates measured in the historical period have fallen from several feet per year to rates closer to a foot per year along Horseshoe Falls, as water diversion and control structures have moderated erosion.

Border, viewpoints and the surrounding cities

Niagara Falls sits on the international boundary between the United States and Canada, with the river itself forming the border and the three waterfalls framed by parkland on both sides.water pours from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario On the American side the city of Niagara Falls, New York, developed along the river, while on the Canadian side the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, faces the gorge with a line of hotels, towers and park paths that look towards Horseshoe Falls.

Visitors encounter a series of named viewpoints and structured routes along the rim, including platforms beside American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, riverside paths where water from the falls runs towards the lower Niagara River, and tours that approach the base of the falls in boats or through tunnels behind the curtain of water.guide to what to see and do The setting combines the constant movement of the river with the fixed forms of bridges, observation structures and landscaped parks, making Niagara Falls both a geological landmark and a shaped environment shared by two countries.

Visiting Niagara Falls: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Niagara Falls lies along the Niagara River between Niagara Falls, New York, in the United States and Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada, reached by road from both sides and by rail services that stop in each city.
• The main viewpoints on both sides of the river sit close to cliff edges above the gorge, with paved paths, railings and sections of steps that require a steady walk and care near drops.
• The region experiences cold winters with freezing temperatures and snowfall, and warm summers, so surfaces and visibility at the falls change markedly with the season.
• English is an official language on both sides of the border and the currencies are the United States dollar and the Canadian dollar.
• 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 is on the Niagara River between Niagara Falls, New York, in the United States and Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada, where the river forms the border.

What can visitors expect on a visit to Niagara Falls?

Visitors encounter three large waterfalls dropping into a gorge, with viewpoints, paths and structured tours on both the American and Canadian sides that bring them close to the falling water.

What makes Niagara Falls distinctive among waterfalls?

Niagara Falls stands out for the combination of its three adjoining waterfalls, the deep gorge carved into the escarpment and its position on an international boundary between two developed cities.