Niagara Falls is not a single waterfall, but rather the general name for three waterfalls located on the Niagara River in the Great Lakes region of North America.
The three waterfalls are Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, respectively, ranging in size from large to small.
The formation of the falls began about 130 million years ago during the ice age. Originally, the area was a glacier-covered basin.
When the Niagara River flowed through this area, it was blocked by a huge glacier, and the water was stopped in the river channel, forming a huge lake. As the glacier retreated, the water in the lake gradually flowed to its present location, eventually forming Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls is known as one of the three major transnational waterfalls in the world, along with Iguazu Falls and Victoria Falls. Known for its beautiful scenery, enormous hydroelectric capacity, and challenging environmental protection works, Niagara Falls is a very popular tourist attraction.
The source of Niagara Falls is the Niagara River, whose waters rush down the cliffs and rejoin at the lower reaches.
In a section of the river less than 2 kilometers long, it plunges at a speed of 35.4 kilometers per hour, and its 15.8-meter drop creates the world's wildest swirling rapids.
In addition to its beautiful and spectacular scenery, Niagara Falls also has many dangers, such as cliffs and strong currents away from the tourist areas.
Every year, many people lose their lives here due to risky behavior. Therefore, while we enjoy Niagara Falls, we should always be vigilant and safety-conscious and refrain from risky behavior.
After the glacier receded, the glacial water that remained formed what is now the Niagara River.
Over time, the water flow grew larger and larger, resulting in this spectacular waterfall. However, the actual shape of Niagara Falls is not static and changes from year to year.
The back of Niagara Falls offers a completely different view from the front of the falls. It is a world of moist air, where water flies overhead, interspersed with a great deal of moisture and water droplets, making it unusually refreshing.
However, it is just as dangerous, with the water flowing with great force and requiring careful forward movement.
From this angle, the view of Niagara Falls is truly spectacular and reminds one of its creation. Not everyone knows that Niagara Falls was created by melting ice and flooding during the Ice Age. At that time, the entire earth was covered by glaciers, and the Niagara River's headwaters were glaciers.
When the glacier melted, it brought with it a huge amount of glacial water that converged in the upper Niagara River. In one flood, the river continued to scour and erode, eventually cutting out what we now see as Niagara Falls.
In this way, the falls were formed and have existed for thousands of years. We not only enjoy the spectacular beauty of Niagara Falls but also become more aware of the importance of environmental protection.
The natural ecosystems surrounding the falls are closely linked to human life, and these ecosystems are facing increasing damage and threats. Therefore, we need to work together and take action to protect our planet so that future generations can experience these beautiful natural landscapes as well.