Who has not heard of the Niagara Falls, that great waterfall that has served as a natural setting for wonderful photographs, postcards that travel the world, and as a reference for many web pages. Considering their great beauty and importance, we are going to present you with some curious facts about these waterfalls located in North America:
An interesting fact about its origin: Niagara Falls were formed more than twelve thousand years ago, when a natural effect produced by the transfer of a huge glacier that came from Canada and traveled to the eastern part of North America, caused the formation of other glaciers in the Niagara River and great lakes of this continent. All this process produced an increase in the flow of water, which in turn caused considerable erosion in the rocks; giving rise to a waterfall of a thousand meters wide and 54 meters high.
Origin of your name: These falls owe their name to the river of the same name, whose terminus «Niagara» comes from the dialect used by the Iroquois Indiansfirst settlers in the area, who lived near «Lake Erie», and who, shocked by the greatness of these waterfalls, believed that they were the abode of Hinu, who was the God of Thunder, so they decided to call them “Niagara”, which means thunder of the water.
They hold the world record: Niagara Falls today They hold the world record for the site with the largest volume of waterfalls on the planet., even though they are not the tallest or widest; but, this amount of water is due to the fact that they are a kind of funnel that collects three different waterfalls. This volume is 110,000 m3 per minute, which is equivalent to about three thousand tons of water per second.
They are a great source of energy: The United States and Canada have a water resource from Niagara Falls; which is essential for the production of energy and drinking water, which provides for both countries, more than 4 million kilowatts of electricity; in addition to 20% of the drinking water consumed by the American cities closest to the falls.
They have a great ecological wealth: This place is full of species of flora and fauna, many of which are in danger of extinction; such as the lake sturgeon and the American bald eagle. As well as species of fish that fall through free falls, whose foam that serves as a mattress, allows 90% of them to survive. On the other hand, there are some 600 species of plants, of which 14 are in danger of extinction.
A day when Niagara Falls ran out of water: That day came, and curiously these huge waterfalls, ran out of water. It was a March 29, 1848, when at midnight, in the great falls there was no water for almost 40 continuous hours. This phenomenon was due to violent wind waves that caused the ice blocks to move towards the ledges of Lake Eire, covering the Niagara River, and therefore the water did not flow towards the falls.
Scenographic protagonist of television series and movies: The supremacy and spectacular panoramic view provided by Niagara Falls have earned it the attention of many television and film products, becoming the natural setting for films such as Bride of Chucky or Niagara, Pirates of the Caribbean and Superman II, as well as some episodes of the television series «Ninja Turtles».
The great act of magic and acrobatics: The famous magician David Copperfield, made a spectacular demonstration called «The challenge of Niagara Falls», in the year 1990, where he apparently jumped from above, locked and tied in a sarcophagus, and then appeared in a helicopter that flew over the Niagara Falls. zone.
The great leaps into the void at Niagara Falls: This impressive site has witnessed great jumps; being the most remembered free falls, those made by Sam Patch in 1829, who jumped into the void from a trampoline, and that of Annie Edson Taylor in 1901, who jumped locked in a barrel. They both survived the big impact, which was unlikely. However, there is an average of 25 people per year, who die by jumping, some for fun, others to take their own lives.
An impressive source of tourism: It is estimated that some thirty million people visit Niagara Falls each year; during all seasons, because the climate is very favorable. This activity generates great profits for the tourist and commercial sector, especially in cities such as Ontario in Canada and New York in the United States, from where very interesting tourist packages are offered.
Niagara Falls has a life of its own: The movement that these great waterfalls have experienced over time, seems to give them a life of their own, and that is that they have moved about eleven kilometers throughout their 12,000 years of existence; product of water erosion and rock movement; which affects both the volume of water and its height; Therefore, specialists on the subject affirm that, although the time in which they will cease to exist cannot be specified, it is believed that they will disappear within 30,000 years.