Niagara Falls where three great cascades share one river

Niagara Falls is a chain of three waterfalls on the Niagara River between Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States, where an immense volume of water drops into a deep gorge. The larger Horseshoe Falls curves along the Canadian bank, while American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls line the United States side of the river.

Three waterfalls sharing one border

The name Niagara Falls refers to the combined spectacle of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls where the Niagara River plunges from the upper river into the lower gorge on the border between Ontario and New York State.waterfall on the Niagara River Goat Island separates the Canadian and United States cascades, so the river appears to break into separate curtains of water above the gorge.two principal parts separated by Goat Island

Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three, with a curving crest line along the Canadian side that stretches for hundreds of metres above the drop, and a height cited in many references at about 57 m (187 ft) from river level to the top of the cliff.Horseshoe Falls height and crest length American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls stand opposite on the United States bank, where the water lands on a talus slope of boulders before joining the lower river.talus slope at the base of American Falls

A landscape cut by ice and river

The gorge below Niagara Falls cuts through layers of sedimentary rock, including a hard cap of dolostone sitting above softer shales and sandstones, which erode more readily than the upper layer.Lockport Dolostone caprock and underlying shales As water pours over the edge, it undercuts the softer strata and carries broken rock downstream, leaving a cliff that faces into the flow.

Geological studies place the formation of the falls at around 12,000 years ago, when retreating ice from the last glaciation opened a path for the Niagara River between the present lakes Erie and Ontario.formed approximately 12,000 years ago The river began by dropping over the Niagara Escarpment near Queenston and Lewiston and has since cut upstream through the rock, leaving a stepped gorge that frames the waterfalls and the rapids above and below.

Niagara Falls as a binational destination

The falls sit between two cities that share the same name: Niagara Falls, New York, in the United States and Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada.city of Niagara Falls, New York, opposite Niagara Falls, Ontario Bridges over the gorge link these urban areas, so visitors encounter an urban edge on both sides of the river as they approach the viewpoints.

Along the rim, walkways and viewing areas line the riverbanks on both sides, giving different perspectives on Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and the deeper sections of the gorge. Parks and landscaped promenades frame the cliff edge, and the river’s flow continues downstream from the plunge pool through the lower gorge towards Lake Ontario.

Visiting Niagara Falls: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Niagara Falls lies on the Niagara River between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York, with the cities of Niagara Falls on either bank connected by road bridges.
• The terrain around the viewpoints includes paved promenades along the cliff edge, with railings above the drop into the gorge and paths leading to different vantage points beside the river.
• The surrounding region includes the broader Niagara Escarpment, and the falls sit between Lake Erie upstream and Lake Ontario downstream, with the river flowing north from one lake to the other.
• The official languages are English in both Ontario and New York State, and the currencies are the Canadian dollar in Canada and the United States dollar in the USA.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Niagara Falls

Where are Niagara Falls located?

Niagara Falls stands on the Niagara River between Ontario in Canada and New York State in the USA, with cities of the same name on each side of the border.

What should visitors expect when seeing Niagara Falls?

Visitors encounter three separate waterfalls dropping into a rock gorge, with riverside promenades, railings and multiple viewing points along both the Canadian and United States banks.

What makes Niagara Falls distinctive among major waterfalls?

Niagara Falls combines three cascades in one short stretch of river, with Horseshoe Falls forming a sweeping Canadian curve and American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls facing it across the gorge.