!!!Niagara Falls
by Evgueni Strok,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

15 November 2013

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

By now we have photographed the majority of famous waterfalls of the
world: Angel Falls in Venezuela, Victoria Falls, located on the border
of Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina.
Today we'll bring you our virtual tour over Niagara Falls.

We have already made an attempt to shoot Niagara Falls from a regular
helicopter but we failed. Unfortunately, our pilot refused to fly to the
waterfall closer than a few kilometers despite of our approved flight
plan. And now, thanks to our colleague Nick Ivanov from Canada, we have
a chance to show you Niagara Falls from a close range.

Here are a few facts about Niagara Falls.

At the place where North American Niagara River separates two of the
Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, nature created a magnificent cascade of
waterfalls. Each waterfall has its own name: the Horseshoe Falls, the
American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. However all of them are known
under one name — Niagara Falls. This is the most important landmark of
the USA and Canada at the same time, as it separates one country from
another.

[{Image src='01_Niagara Falls.jpg' caption='Niagara Falls' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

Great Lakes of North America, Niagara River, and its waterfalls are
results of shifting of an ice shield that moved down from the Eastern
Canada territory over ten thousand years ago. The glacier crashed
everything on its way, deepening and widening riverbeds, and creating or
eliminating lakes.

Interestingly enough, the geological characteristics of the area are
such that the layers of soil are still moving, even if their movement is
not as dramatic any more. During past centuries Niagara Falls have moved
eleven kilometers south. According to scientists, the waterfall has been
moving with the average speed of one, one and a half meters per year
during last 560 years. Today special engineering efforts managed to slow
the shifting a little bit.

[{Image src='02_Niagara Falls at winter.jpg' caption='Niagara Falls at winter\\Photo: Evgueni Strok' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='601'}]

On the international scale Niagara Falls is not that high — just 53
meters. Here are few numbers for comparison: Angel Falls in Venezuela
drops its water from 807 meters, and Victoria Falls in Zambia and
Zimbabwe is 108 meters high. However the width of Niagara Falls is 792
meters. This fact places it together with the widest waterfalls in the
world (comparing with Angel and Victoria — 107 and 1800 meters
respectively).

These numbers demonstrate how different a waterfall can be. Every one of
them is unique. It is also true for the waterfalls that form the Niagara
Falls complex.

[{Image src='03_Niagara Falls.jpg' caption='Niagara Falls' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

A small island called Luna separates the American Falls and the Bridal
Veil Falls (that truly looks like a bridal wear). Their combined width
is about 335 meters. At the same time, there is a giant pile of large
sharp rocks at the foot of the American Falls, which makes a visible
part of the waterfall 21 meter high.

Being separated by Goat Island, which was formed relatively late (the
Niagara River was split into two channels about five hundred years ago),
the Horseshoe Falls stands apart from the two. The speed and power of
the American Falls are considerably less than those of the Horseshoe
Falls, because Goat Island slows down masses of water; and in case of
Horseshoe Falls, nothing stands on its way.

[{Image src='04_Niagara Falls.jpg' caption='Niagara Falls' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

Named after deceased herd of artiodactyls, Goat Island is a popular
tourist destination as it offers an opportunity to enjoy a spectacular
view and also to take pictures of Niagara Falls. Little bridges connect
the island with the US mainland and neighboring Luna Island. The Cavern
of The Winds, another Niagara attraction, is also located here. From
inside the cavern, one can admire the waterfall up close and also feel
the power and presence of the big water. And when we say "power" we
really mean it — drops of water shower you from head to toe! This is why
each tourist receives a raincoat and waterproof footwear at the entrance
to the cavern.

[{Image src='05_Niagara Falls.jpg' caption='Niagara Falls' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='330'}]

Niagara Falls attracts not only millions of tourists, but also those who
want to experience extreme sensations. In 1829 Sam Patch became famous
as a first man, who jumped from the Horseshoe Falls and survived.
Another so-called record was set in 1901 by a 63-year-old Annie Taylor,
who went over the waterfall in a barrel. The event of 1960 is rightfully
called "The Miracle of Niagara", as a 7-year-old boy accidentally fell
down the Horseshoe Falls and survived. Unfortunately, raging waters of
Niagara Falls also took many human lives...

[{Image src='06_Niagara from the altitude of 500 meters.jpg' caption='Niagara from the altitude of 500 meters' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

Location and position of Niagara Falls doesn't allow a group view of all
the waterfalls from one spot. Some people believe that the most
spectacular view opens from the Canadian shore; those who travel to
Niagara Falls on American side are also satisfied with the picture. And
now you have an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent panorama of all
waterfalls from the widest possible angle — a bird's eye view — without
a risk of getting wet or falling down the stream.

\\ \\
[8 Panoramas of Niagara Falls|Geography/America/Canada/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Niagara_Falls]










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