The Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of the Niagara Gorge between the state of New York. Niagara is formed by combining three waterfalls namely American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Canadian Horseshoe Falls.Niagara Falls major tourist attraction in the United States and Canada.
Bridal Veil Falls, which is adjacent to the American Falls, looks like it is a part of the American Falls itself, but it is different. Bridal Veil Falls got its name from its shape.
The largest of the three, Horseshoe Falls is also known as Canadian Falls. It straddles the international border between Canada and the United States. The comparatively small American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie entirely within the borders of the United States. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island. Both islands are located in New York. Since it falls from America to Canada, the beauty of Niagara can be fully enjoyed from Canada. During peak daytime hours, 168,000 m3 (six million cubic feet) of water pass through every minute.
Niagara Falls stopped for 6 months!!
“”For six months from one summer to the fall of 1969, the American Falls of Niagara, the United States stopped and hunted why it was.””
First let’s know what is Niagara Falls.
These falls are located on the Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, and the three waterfalls formed in this Niagara River are collectively known as Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world, is made up of three waterfalls namely 1. Horseshoe falls or Canadian falls, 2. American falls and 3. Bridal Veil Falls.
Niagara Falls major tourist attraction in the United States and Canada.
Most of these Horseshoe falls or Canadian falls are located in Canada and the remaining two waterfalls are located in New York (USA).
Horseshoe falls is located in this part where the water coming from the Niagara River joins one side of the island called Goat Island and falls down on the Canada-USA border. Most of the water in the Niagara River falls in Horseshoe Falls. On the other side of Goat Island are American Falls and Bridal Falls, which flow only through the USA.
Now let’s go back to the question itself… Why did America stop the American Falls in Niagara…
Honestly, one reason is jealousy. That is, the waterfall on the Canadian side is the most beautiful waterfall in Niagara, not only that but also in terms of height.. It is ahead of the other two waterfalls..
While Horseshoe Falls falls from a height of 57 meters (187 feet), the height of American Falls is only 21 to 30 meters (69 to 98 feet) due to the giant boulders (seen in the pictures) at its base. The larger Horseshoe Falls is 790 meters (2,590 ft) wide, while the American Falls is 320 meters (1,050 ft) wide.
Because of this, in order to be the same height as the adjacent Horseshoe Falls, if the giant rocks below the American Falls are removed, it will be as high as Canada Falls when it falls directly into the river without hitting the rocks… It is not the habit of bowing to anyone in the past… This is one of the reasons for stopping the falls. ..
And then there is.. there was no smooth flow with rocks on the floor above American Falls. Therefore, all those rocks should be demolished and changed into a very clean and smooth flowing white waterfall.
Similarly, the concern that the beauty of the American Falls will be lost due to soil erosion and how to stop this soil erosion and make it a stable waterfall….the reason why the waterfall was stopped.
Over three days in June 1969, more than 1,200 trucks loaded 28,000 tons of rock into the American Falls section of the Niagara River to create a dam, diverting the flow of the Niagara River from American Falls to Horseshoe Falls.
After that, the US Army Corps of Engineers surveyed the river bed and broke away the unnecessary rocks on the upper bed… but the Americans failed to move the giant rocks below and abandoned the effort.
Equipment to monitor rock movements was installed at several locations, steel bolts and cables were installed to secure the rocks around Luna Island and Bridal Veil Falls, and drainage holes were drilled and activated to relieve hydrostatic pressure at several locations.
After a six-month hiatus, the temporary barrier was slowly removed in November 1969 and the American Falls of Niagara were revived as they are today.