Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day

The Falls at Niagara are about 12,000 years old. Falls were formed when melting glaciers formed massive fresh-water lakes (the Great Lakes) one of which (Lake Erie) ran downhill toward another (Lake Ontario). The water rushing over the Niagara Falls waterfalls comes from the Great Lakes, which is the world's largest surface freshwater system in the world. It contains about 18% of the world's freshwater supply, with water flowing into the Great Lakes from streams and rivers that empty into it.

What makes Niagara Falls so impressive is the amount of water flowing over. Most of the tallest falls in the world have very little water flowing over them. It's the combination of height and volume that makes Niagara Falls so breathtaking.

Why was Niagara Falls shut off in 1848? The reason-a strong south-west gale had pushed the ice fields in Lake Erie in motion. Millions of tons of ice became lodged at the source of the mouth of the Niagara River, blocking the channel completely stopping the flow of water over the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls.