1 Курс Статья №2 Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is certainly one of the most spectacular and popular sights in North America. The charm and beauty of this natural wonder has attracted tourists from all over the world and continues to do so. It's also a favourite place of honeymooners and stuntmen.

Niagara Falls is located on the Niagara River, about halfway between lakes Erie and Ontario. The river forms part of the United States-Canadian border.

Niagara Falls actually consists of two water­falls, die Horseshoe Falls and American Falls.

The Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side of the border in the province of Ontario. Its height is about 56 metres and length of its curv­ing line is about 670 metres. About 90 per cent of the water at Niagara Falls flows over the Horseshoe Falls.

The American Falls is on the United States side in the state of New York. It is about 58 metres high and 320 metres wide.

At the falls, the Niagara River plunges into a steep deep gorge. The gorge extends beyond Niagara Falls for about 11 kilometres. It is about 61 metres deep and consists of layers of different kinds of stone. Through the years, the gorge has become longer and longer. The ledge of the Horseshoe Falls wears away at a rate varying from about 8 centimetres to as much as 2 metres a year. The ledge of the American Falls erodes more slowly because less water flows over it. Each year, about 2.5 centimetres wears away.

Niagara Falls was probably formed about 12,000 years ago, after the last great ice sheet melted from the region. The melting ice caused lake Erie to overflow. The overflow formed the Niagara River. The river ran northward over a high cliff called the Niagara Escarpment. The Niagara River cut through the escarpment and, over the centuries, formed Niagara Falls.

Indian tribes lived in the area long before the first Europeans arrived. Louis Hennepin, a Roman Catholic priest, left the first written account of Niagara Falls. In a book published in 1683, Hennepin wrote: 'These waters foam and boil in a fearful manner. They thunder continually."

Excellent views of the falls can be seen from the brink of the precipice, from one of the observation towers, or in a helicopter from above. Several steamers called The Maid of the Mist take sightseers close to the churning waters at the base of the falls.

Parks line both sides of the river near Niagara Falls. At night, wide beams of coloured lights illuminate the falls and the raging waters seem gentle when covered with a colourful melody of red, yellow, blue, green and purple. By day, a magnificent rainbow can be seen above the falls. Niagara Falls not only delights its visitors but sprays them with gentle mist which reaches up past the land level and can be seen for miles. No trip to Niagara Falls is com­plete without a visit under the falls. After putting on a protect­ive raincoat, you will go down to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Thrilling and awesome, this close-up view of the falls is an unforgettable experience.