Niagara Falls in Canada

Niagara Falls is a waterfall located on the Niagara River in the Township of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. It is one of the three great waterfalls and is one of the 7 wonders of nature in North America. Niagara Falls has not always been part of Canada. They were originally part of the territory of the United States which would later become the State of New York. Canada's control of this territory only lasted between 1841 and 1843, as it only relinquished its claim when Britain threatened to make war on it. The border between Canada and the United States remained where it is today: just north of the falls.

Niagara Falls in Canada was first sighted in July 1759 by British army officer (later general) John Graves Simcoe, who called it "magnificent". It was the site of an ancient native settlement known as "Onondaga Village" and an Indian trading post. The original land claim to the fall belonged to a man named Isaac Newton, after whom the fall is named.

In 1803-04, British Major Lewis Boolean mapped the Niagara River, which he named after Sir William Johnson, then Lieutenant Governor of New York State. He also named several other smaller tributaries, including "Bardolph" Creek after Sir William's brother, Sir Joseph.

The name "Niagara" actually means "near or beside the rapids". The distance to the falls was not precisely known at the time, and on some early British maps they were depicted as being closer to Lake Erie than to Lake Ontario. In 1778, the Spaniards of Captain Juan de Ayala were the first Europeans to draw up a detailed map of the area surrounding present-day Niagara Falls. In 1759, the French began building "La Galette", a fortress and trading post near the falls. Due to fear of attacks, their work was not fully completed and they had to abandon it after only one year. When Fort Niagara was built in 1792 in Lewiston, New York, it was located closer to Lake Ontario to better defend against attacks from the south through Lake Erie. In 1795, Sir Adam Gordon established another British garrison at Niagara, but did not obtain a royal charter until June 2 of that year.

The Niagara River was an important shipping route and a natural travel route linking the Big lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The falls also created a huge barrier, forcing travelers to bypass the gorge or portage until an agreement was reached between Queen Victoria and President John Quincy Adams in 1854 which lifted this requirement. During the American Revolution, British forces used it as leverage against the Americans, as they wanted to retain control of Fort Niagara for its strategic value, especially when an invasion was threatened in 1777. General George Washington sent some of his troops to help repel these attacks until he learned that his own men were being attacked by Loyalists in New Jersey. In 1826, the discovery of nickel in Sudbury, Ontario led to the town being named after the ancient Greek word meaning "new", as it was a new discovery.

The Canadian side of the falls is best accessed from the town of Niagara Falls. Just 25 minutes from Niagara-on-the-Lake, this beautiful town is full of European charm, with plenty of historic buildings and parks to explore. One such park is Queen Victoria Park, located along the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls on the river bank. The park is a great place to visit if you want a slightly quieter spot from which to view the falls, although it is home to many attractions; including the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark and the gondola that takes you over the falls for spectacular views.

Niagara Falls actually comprises 3 separate falls. There are several opportunities to experience the falls and the paths visitors can take.

Horseshoe Falls is actually a horseshoe made up of 8 sets of tall vertical panels that radiate outward from a central ridge, with water falling over 80 feet in height. The falls are made up of moving water and are due to the erosion of the Niagara Escarpment, which is a long cliff containing layers of sandstone, limestone and shale. Water still pours out of Lake Erie and eventually flows through the Niagara Gorge after crossing Niagara Falls. The height of the Horseshoe Falls varies daily due to erosion and ice flow.

Located on the right side of Horseshoe Falls, they are roughly tall and wide. The area above the falls is a conservation area and is home to 20 species of mammals, 100 species of birds, and 95 species of plants. There is a walking path where visitors can walk around the edge of the American Falls (on a different side than the Canadian side) in order to see them better. From time to time, people venture onto the thin ice that overlooks these falls in an attempt to approach them. Many people who have done this are known to have died after being swept away by ice when it gave way under their weight or by falling through cracks. The tide rises 1.5 feet every hour between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., so ice can form at the top anytime during this time.

These falls are located on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. They are located below the Horseshoe Falls and are tall and wide. These falls occur when water flows over a cliff at the bottom of the gorge, which is cut into the Niagara Escarpment by a narrow gorge called "The Narrows". The water then falls from an approximate height until after it passes through the Bridal Veil Falls, which is approximately wide. The height of these falls is usually between and minus at high tide.