If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 559

 

 

 

 

 

Niagara Falls

 

A product of The Niagara Parks Commission, this postcard has a view of the American Falls in the foreground and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls in the background.  No photographer is credited.  On the reverse, at the lower left corner, is L-2012-E / 401082000.  The card was made in Canada.

 

There are three individual falls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls comprising Niagara Falls.  Horseshoe Falls is the largest and found on the international border between Ontario, Canada and New York, United States.  The two smaller falls, American and Bridal Veil are within the United States.  Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and American Falls by Luna Island.  Both islands are within the U.S. borders.  Some of the water is used for hydroelectric power.  The United States and Canada agreed by treaty to limit the water usage by hydroelectric power plants to preserve the natural beauty of the falls.  The amount of water for power varies seasonally based on the number of expected tourists during the summer and winter months.

 

The Great Lakes were formed at the end of the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago.  As the ice melted the water flowed into the Niagara River that eventually cut a gorge through the north-facing cliff.  Uneven erosion in the three major rock beds of the gorge created the shapes of the falls.  Erosion is still occurring today at a rate of about 1 ft or 30 cm a year.  It is estimated that at the current rate of erosion Niagara Falls will cease to exist in about 50,000 years.  Erosion control and preservation efforts have been ongoing since 1885.  The green color of the water is due to the dissolved salts and finely ground rock generated by erosion.

 

The first European eyewitness accounts of the falls comes from the journal records of Frenchman Samuel de Champlain, who visited the area in 1604 during an exploration of Canada.  Today about 30 million tourists visit the falls each year. 

 

There have been a number of stunts involving the falls, from going over in a barrel, jumping in or plunging into the water, tightrope walking over the falls, plus accidents with some people surviving and others losing their life.  It is now illegal on both sides of the border to attempt to go over the falls.  Some modern stunts have been performed but only after receiving special permission from both governments.  The most recent stunt was when the high wire artist, Nik Wallenda, walked across the falls on a tightrope in 2012. 

 

Although I have never visited the falls, it is one of those magnificent natural wonders that one wishes to see.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls