Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. It sits on the Niagara River between New York in the United States and Ontario in Canada. Each second, millions of gallons of water rush over the edge. The loud roar and misty spray make it an amazing place to visit.

The Three Falls

Niagara Falls is really made up of three waterfalls. The biggest one is called Horseshoe Falls because it is shaped like a horse's shoe. The other two are the American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls. Together, they drop water from about 167 feet high.

How It Was Made

The falls were formed a very long time ago by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. When the ice melted, it left behind rivers and cliffs. Over thousands of years, the water wore away the rocks and made the waterfalls we see today. The falls are still slowly moving as the water keeps carving the stone.

Fun Facts

• More than 3,000 tons of water flow over Niagara Falls every second.
• People can ride a boat called Maid of the Mist to get very close to the falls.
• At night, colorful lights shine on the falls to make them glow.

Did You Know?

In 1901, a woman named Annie Edson Taylor went over Niagara Falls inside a wooden barrel and lived to tell the story.