• The Stories Of Niagara 
  
• A BRIEF HISTORY OF NIAGARA
• History Time Line
• THE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM
• Daredevils of Niagara
• FORMATION OF THE FALLS
• POWER FROM NIAGARA
• THE MAID OF THE MIST STORY
• The Old Scow
• Niagara Trivia
• Quick Facts American Falls & Horseshoe Falls

FORMATION OF THE FALLS

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History Timeline

1678

Franciscan monk and explorer Louis Hennepin becomes the first European explorer to encounter the falls. Impressed, Hennepin estimates the falls to be an incredible 600 feet high—though in reality they rise 170 feet.

 1846

For the first time in recorded history, the falls go dry due to strong westerly winds keeping water in Lake Erie, in addition to an ice jam that dams the river's water near Buffalo, New York. Townspeople happily explore the riverbed and the edge of the falls, finding, among other things, relics from the War of 1812.

 July 1848

Widely considered to be the first painting to adequately capture the beauty and power of Niagara Falls, Frederick Church displays his landscape masterpiece, The Great Fall, Niagara for the first time in New York City.

Summer 1859

Jean Francois Gravelet, known as the "The Great Blondin," begins a famous series of tightrope walks across the Niagara gorge, over the rapids about a mile downriver from the falls. The act draws crowds as large as 25,000 people. Blondin even manages to carry his manager over the rope on his back.

July 11 1920

The Niagara Reservation State Park opens, attracting 750,000 visitors. It is the first state park established in the United States. Charles Stephens, the first man—but second to go over the falls takes the plunge in a 600-pound oak barrel. The force of the water rips the barrel apart and Stephens is killed. His right arm is the only part of him to be recovered.

July 9 1960

A seven-year-old boy named Roger Woodward is swept over the falls after a boating accident. He survives with only minor injuries and is rescued by the Maid of the Mist. He is the first person known to go over the falls without any sort of protection—and survive.

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THE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM

The Niagara River isn’t really a "river" in the strictest sense of the word. It is actually a strait – a relatively narrow body of water that connects tow larger bodies (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario). The two lakes, in turn, are part of an even larger mass of water – The Great Lakes System. The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of all the world’s "free" fresh water (water not frozen into the polar ice caps). The main source of the lakes is the "ground water" (the water table) of the surrounding portion of North America. The water in the Great Lakes system travels from west to east and makes a total drop of 602 ft (183 m) before reaching sea level.

     Water flows from Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron through Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River into western Lake Erie. From the eastern end of lake Erie, the water flows north through the 35 miles (56 km) of the Niagara River, which empties into Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario, in turn, drains northeastward through the St. Lawrence River and into the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Superior is both the largest (in surface area) and the deepest of the five Great Lakes. Ontario is the smallest, and Erie is the shallowest. (A brief table of measurements is presented below.) Lake Superior Area: 31,820 sq miles Length: 350 mi Width: 160 mi Max. Depth: 1290 ft Lake Huron Area: 23,010 sq miles Length: 206 mi Width: 183 mi Max. Depth: 750 ft Lake Michigan Area: 22,400 sq miles Length: 307 mi Width: 118 mi Max Depth: 923 ft Lake Erie Area: 9,940 sq miles Length: 241 mi Width: 57 mi Max. Depth: 210 ft Lake Ontario Area: 7,540 sq miles Length: 193 mi Width: 53 mi Max. Depth: 774 ft The largest difference in water level between two lakes is the 326 ft drop between Lakes Erie and Ontario. (Superior is 22 ft higher than Michigan and Huron, which are 8 ft higher than Erie). 

    The huge mass of water that makes up the Great Lakes system determines both the environment and the economy of the Niagara region. The moisture that evaporates from the lakes tends to inhibit cloud formation in the summer and to moderate air temperature in the winter, thus producing a remarkably temperate climate. Niagara is usually warmer in the winter than the surrounding portions of North America, and has more days of sunshine than many "sunbelt" cities. Great Lakes water is also the economic lifeblood of the area. The force of water flowing downhill provides huge amounts of renewable energy; energy that is used to power industry, commerce, and residential districts. Water transportation systems fan out from Niagara to many parts of the continent, and agriculture flourishes. 

    The falls at Niagara draw millions of sightseers each year. The fact that Niagara is both a part and a product of the Great Lakes is often impressed on visitors when they hear the cry of "sea gulls". These water birds (actually fresh water gulls and terns) flourish in and around the Great Lakes – the inland seas that give the Niagara region its special character and identity.

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Daredevils of Niagara:

They are a group of daredevils firmly entrenched in North American folklore. They are the men and women who have made headlines by an act most people would find inconceivable: choosing to take a ride over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls—sometimes with only inches of wood or metal as protection from the pounding rush of thousands of gallons of water. Interestingly, these adventurers, crazy as they may seem, have chosen not to brave the American Falls—where less flowing water and more jutting rocks make the descent even more dangerous. Fifteen adventurers have braved the Horseshoe Falls since 1901. Read some of their stories below:

The third person to go over the falls, Lussier took the plunge on July 4, 1928, not in a barrel, but inside a six-foot rubber ball that was lined with oxygen-filled rubber tubes. He survived and afterwards made extra money by selling pieces of the ball's rubber tubes.

George Stathakis

This adventurer made the plunge in a ten-foot, one-ton wooden barrel on July 4, 1930. Sadly, however, Stathakis's barrel was caught behind the falls for fourteen hours. Having only enough air to survive for three hours, Stathakis died before he was rescued, but his 105-year-old pet turtle, Sonny Boy, did survive the trip.

Red Hill Jr.

Sharp, who hoped to advance his career as a stuntman by going over the falls, chose to attempt the feat on June 5, 1990, in a white water kayak without a helmet or a life vest. His body was never recovered. Five years later, Robert Overacker attempted to go over the falls on a jet ski. The fifteenth person since 1901 to purposely try to make it over the falls, Overacker died. His body was recovered by the Maid of the Mist, the ferryboat that takes visitors to the foot of the falls for a closer look.

Steven Trotter

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POWER FROM NIAGARA

Even before the advent of electricity, local residents were able to draw power from the Niagara River by using water wheels. It took the development of electricity, however, for the enormous power potential of Niagara to be realized. Today, hydroelectricity is one of Niagara’s most important products. Some milestones in the development of Niagara’s hydropower: 1895 - The Edward Dean Adams generating station opens in Niagara Falls, NY. It is the world’s first commercial-scale generation of alternating current electricity – a radical new technology that makes it practical to transmit power over long distances. 

    1903 - Construction of the Schoellkopf generating station is begun at the bottom of the Gorge near the Falls. the station takes advantage of the full 200 ft drop of the Falls to produce much larger quantities of electricity than ever before at Niagara. 1950 - the USA and Canada sign a treaty to regulate the amounts of water that can be diverted from the river above the Falls for the production of electricity. During daylight hours from April 1 to October 31st (the primary tourism season), at least 100,000 cubic feet per second must flow over the Falls. (The average river flow before diversion is 202,000 cubic feet per second.) At other times, the flow over the Falls must be at least 50,000 cubic feet per second. The International Joint Commission, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Ontario Hydro begin work on a control structure that will regulate water flow over the Falls and will provide a pool upstream for the Ontario Hydro to draw from. 

    1956 - The Schoellkopf station collapses in a rock slide. Two-thirds of the station are destroyed, and generating capacity is severely reduced. The economy of the Niagara suffers from the loss of available power for industry. 

    1961 - The Power Authority of the State of New York opens its massive new Niagara Power Project. Generating capacity of the new facility is 2, 400 megawatts. Water for power generation is diverted from the Niagara River above the Falls in both the US and in Canada. On the New York side of the river, the intakes are located two and one-half miles above the Falls. Water is pumped through two conduits, each 46 ft wide and 66 ft high, that run north underneath the city of Niagara Falls to Lewiston. There, water may be stored in a 1900 acre reservoir or diverted into the generating station on the edge of the Niagara Gorge.

     The design of the Power Authority’s Niagara Project is specially adapted to preserving the beauty of the Falls according to the 1950 treaty. Peak demand for electricity comes during daylight hours, but extra water to produce extra electricity cannot be drawn away from the Falls during the daytime in the tourist season. Both the Niagara Project and the Adam Beck generating station in Niagara Falls, Ontario (which has a similar design) draw extra water during the night in the tourist season, and then store it in their reservoirs for use during peak electric demand periods the following day. In this way, water flow over the Falls is reduced only when doing so will not interfere with the enjoyment of their natural beauty, and yet as much electricity is produced as possible.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF NIAGARA

While it is not certain how long there have been people living in the Niagara area, estimates usually range between 5000 and 8000 years. Little is known about the earliest inhabitants of the region, but later residents have left a rich and exciting history. By the 1st century A.D., ancestors of the present-day "Iroguoian" peoples were firmly established in the area. Approximately 1500 years later their descendants reached a major turning point in their history when they took park in the formation of the "Great League of Peace". 

    The League, also known to us today as the Iroquois Confederacy, was a joining of five nations whose territories stretched across what is now New York State. The Five Nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Onandaga, Oneida, and Mohawk) called themselves "Ho-de-no-saunee" (People of the Extended House), and were a major influence in the Northeast for the next two centuries. The Niagara region was under the stewardship of the Seneca, who were called "Keepers of the Western Door". 

    A series of events that would have far-reaching consequences for Niagara took place in the 1600’s. Europeans, who had been busily colonizing other parts of North America, began to explore the interior of the continent. The first of these explorers to pass through the Niagara area were French, and among them was Father Louis Hennepin, a Recollect priest. Father Hennepin visited the region in December of 1678 and was overwhelmed by the size and magnificence of the Falls. Father Hennepin later returned to France, and there, in 1683, published an account of his travels. This work was translated into a number of European languages, and brought the existence of Niagara Falls to the attention of the "Old World" for the first time. 

    At the same time that they were exploring North America, the Europeans were also taking control of the continent. The French gradually occupied the middle of the continent from Northeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The Niagara River, which joins Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, quickly became an important link in the French water transport systems. Soldiers and supplies could be carried by boat along most of the river’s length with only one portage (around the Falls and rapids). In order to maintain control over the river, the French found it necessary to establish a permanent presence in Niagara. In 1679, they built a crude log fort at the mouth of the Niagara River where it joins Lake Ontario. It was soon abandoned. Another log fort was built in 1687, but it, too, was abandoned. 

    By the early 1700’s, however, it became apparent that the British (another colonial power in North America) had designs on New France. Accordingly, in 1726, the French began the construction of the present Fort Niagara on the site of the previous forts. This time, they built for permanence. The first building the French erected at Fort Niagara was a heavily-fortified stone chateau, which remains today and is called the "French Castle". It was a self-contained fort in and of itself. The French later expanded Fort Niagara, adding other buildings and massive earthworks, but these efforts did them little good in the end. During the so-called "French and Indian Wars" of the 1750’s – a series of bloody battles fought in many parts of the Northeast – the British managed to wrest control of much of the continent away from France. Britain gained control of the Niagara region July 26, 1759, when the French surrendered Fort Niagara after a two-week siege. 

    Although the British occupied Fort Niagara the Iroquois were still a major power in the region. The Five Nations had become the Six Nations. In the early 1720’s, the Tuscarora nation had been driven out of their native Carolinas by European settlers. They migrated to the Niagara area, where they became "little brothers" of the League of Peace. The British remained in Fort Niagara, however, and by the time the American Revolution ended they had gained total control over the region. The Six Nations were divided over the Revolution, and those who had sided with the British were devastated by a vengeful US Government. The power of the League was shattered. During the years of the Revolution, the British had used Fort Niagara as a base for military raids into the rebelling colonies.

     The Niagara area remained entirely in the possession of the British Crown until 1796. In that year, the new US government (in accordance with the Jay Treaty) took possession of the eastern shores of the Niagara River, while the British crossed over to remain in control of the western shores. A few small communities existed on both sides of the river by the end of the American Revolution, but their growth was slow. Few persons came to Niagara over the next few years. The War of 1812 had a disastrous effect on the region. Battle after battle raged across the Niagara Frontier. Villages and settlements on both sides of the new border were burned to the ground. The war was particularly cruel to the residents of the region because many of them had relatives and friends on both sides of the border. When the war ended in 1815, settlements and villages were re-established and began to grow. 

    Niagara was (and is) a fertile land, with a climate suitable for the cultivation of many food crops. Many farms sprang up across the region. By that time, some persons had begun to see the potential of Niagara Falls as an attraction. A number of artists had sketched and painted the Falls, and copies of their works appeared in homes and public buildings throughout North America and Europe. Niagara became increasingly famous, and the number of visitors to the area rose each year.

    Two marvels of engineering made Niagara accessible to the world during the second quarter of the 19th century. The first was the Erie Canal (completed in 1825), which connected the Hudson River with Lake Erie. It quickly became part of a heavily-traveled water transportation route between the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes. The second engineering marvel was the Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Niagara Gorge, which was opened in 1855. Superseding a light carriage bridge that had been built in 1848, the Roebling Bridge (named for the family of engineers who later built the Brooklyn Bridge) was a massive structure that carried traffic on two levels – rail traffic above and carriages below. The railroad level of the bridge connected the East Coast and the growing western cities of Detroit and Chicago by the shortest possible route. The Niagara region became a busy center for shipping and commerce. By water and by rail, the flow of goods and travelers moving through the area increased year by year. 

    Niagara’s new accessibility encouraged a growing number of travelers to visit for the specific purpose of seeing the falls. The American Civil War put a damper on tourism. Niagara was untouched by the battles that desolated many American communities, but the region was not unaffected by the war and the issues surrounding it. Many local men died on the battlefields. Even before the Civil War, the Niagara Frontier had been involved in the bitter dispute over the existence of slavery in the United States. The area was a northern terminus of the Underground Railway. By night the Niagara River was a dangerous place, where professional slave catchers patrolled the waters trying to snare locals who smuggled escaped slaves to freedom in Canada. Many of the old houses along the lower Niagara River still have secret cellars and tunnels that were used to hide the slaves until it was safe to move them. When the Civil War ended, the pattern of tourism and commerce was gradually restored. More people came to Niagara than ever before. 

    The last quarter of the 19th century also saw the rapid growth of a new sector of the local economy: Manufacturing. The Niagara River was the source of power for this new industry. As early as 1850 a hydraulic canal had been blasted through the village of Niagara Falls to provide water to turn the wheels of local mills and factories. By the 1880’s the number of factories in Niagara had grown dramatically as many companies sought to tap into Niagara’s abundant and inexpensive water power. Industrial growth would continue in the area for the next several decades. 

    During the 1880’s and 1890’s, Niagara’s growth in population, tourism, and industry was reflected in three events that would have important consequences for the area, for the United States, and for the world. One of these events took place in 1892, when the villages of Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge incorporated to form the City of Niagara Falls. The city continued to grow in size and population for several decades, eventually incorporating several other villages. Another important event occurred in 1895. Thoughtful persons had long feared that the area around the famous waterfalls at Niagara would be spoiled by overbuilding and commercialization.

     In 1885, the New York State Legislature created the Niagara Reservation in order to preserve the beauty of the Falls and guarantee that the public would always have access to them. The Reservation was the first of New York’s many State Parks, and its creation inspired the formation of other state parks across the United States. Perhaps the most consequential event of all took place ten years later.

     In 1885 the Edward Dean Adams hydroelectric generating station was opened at Niagara Falls. Before then, widespread generation and use of electricity had not been practical because the generating facilities of the time produced direct current, which is difficult to transmit over distances of more than a few miles. The Adams Station was the world’s first commercial-scale producer of alternating current, which could be sent over great distances. In 1896, one year after the station’s opening, the world was astounded when electricity generated at Niagara Falls was transmitted to the city of Buffalo, twenty five miles away. Electricity, which had been more or less of a novelty with limited applications, could now become an easily-obtained, dependable source of power for humanity. The world would never be the same. The arch that formed the front entrance of the Adams Station was moved to Goat Island State Park (in the middle of the Falls) in 1966. 

    Ten years later a large bronze statue of Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the A-C induction motor that altered the future of the world, was placed in front of the arch. During the first half of the 20th century, Niagara’s pattern of population, industrial, and tourism growth continued more or less unchanged except for temporary fluctuations in tourism during both World Wars. The second half of the century, however, has seen great changes in the region. Preservation and restoration programs have served to highlight much of Niagara’s past, while ambitious new building programs have reshaped both the area's face and its economy. 

    Still one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, Niagara is also becoming known as a major convention destination, a Great Lakes vacation resort, and center of Native American culture. The remainder of the 20th century cannot, of course, be foreseen. It is probable, however, that certain characteristics of the Niagara area will affect its future. The Falls of Niagara will continue to draw millions of visitors each year. Niagara’s resources of water and energy will become increasingly valuable. The area’s temperate climate will remain attractive to those who must deal with North America’s many climatic extremes, and the people of Niagara will prove to be an important asset in the growth of the local economy.

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THE MAID OF THE MIST STORY

This is a version of a story that is told by the people of the Six Nations. The "standard" Maid of the Mist story that is commonly told in Niagara today is not actually a Native American story at all. It was, apparently, the invention of a 19th century European anthropologist. Its themes of cruel gods and human sacrifice are alien to the Six Nations people. 

    The following presentation of the "correct" story should not be taken as an authoritative telling of the tale. It is a written version of a story that is best told orally, and is subject to the cultural biases of both the writer and the English language. It should be taken as a rather dim reflection of the richness of Niagara’s native culture.

     "When people knew the wholeness of the world, they knew that all are one with the world. They spoke with the earth and the sky, and knew them as themselves. The sun, the moon, and the stars spoke with them, and people were one with them. They knew the animals and the plants as their brothers and sisters. The thunder taught them about what is and what will happen. People knew all these things, and knew the wholeness of the world. 

    But people forgot. The earth and the stars and the animals and the Thunder continued to talk to them, but people didn’t always listen. Sometimes they couldn’t even hear what was being said to them. As they forgot their oneness with the world and with each other, some people became selfish, or mistrustful, or jealous of others. 

    All in all, however, people became more and more deaf to the words of the Thunder. 

    This story tells about the last time that the Thunder ever spoke to a human. 

    No one had heard from the Thunder for a long time when a girl, one of the people who lived in Niagara, lay down under a tree one hot summer afternoon to sleep. While the girl was sleeping an old woman of the people happened to pass by, and she noticed a small snake-like thing starting to crawl underneath the girl’s dress. The old woman didn’t even bother to wake the girl and warn her. She simply went on her way. in fact, the old woman never told anyone what she had seen, so the girl never suspected that anything might have happened to her. 

    When the girl became a young woman she found a young man, and they were very happy together. It wasn’t long, however, before the young man died. After a long while the young woman met another young man, and they were happy together. Before they could raise a family, however, the young man died. A third time, the young woman found a man she liked. Again, he died. The young woman was confused and afraid. She suspected that something might be wrong with her, but had no idea what it could be. She was embarrassed to admit her fears to anyone, and had no idea where to turn for help. The old woman, who could have helped her by telling her what had happened, never said a word to her. The people had traveled far along the path of mistrust and selfishness. "

    The woman decided to kill herself. One night she put a canoe into the river above the falls, climbed in, and pushed out into the current. The canoe shot down the rapids and plunged over the edge of the Falls. Instead of falling to her death, the woman felt the canoe being lowered slowly to the base of the Falls. As the boat settled gently into the water, she heard voices in the darkness. She felt hands touching her, drawing her out of the canoe and leading her behind the Falls, but she couldn’t see who was guiding her. 

    "When they were behind the Falls, she was able to see clearly. She found herself in a cave with a high ceiling and many people in it. These were the Thunder beings. They explained to her that they were invisible in the outside world, but that they became visible when they were behind the waterfall. An old man of the Thunder people asked the woman, ‘Why did you try to kill yourself? You were created with a soul and a mind, and you were given a number of days to walk with Nature.’ He went on to explain what had happened to her the day she had slept under the tree, and promised to help her. 

    The Thunder beings built a tiny fire on the floor of the cave, and one brought medicine. The young woman was told to stand over the smoldering fire so the smoke could rise around her. "As she stood there, a tiny snake-like thing dropped out of her dress and crawled away, growing larger as it went. The old man said to the woman, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you now. You’ll be able to have a husband and children when you go back to your people. 

    ’You can’t go back to them right away, though. You’re too full of power to go among them safely just yet. Stay with us here behind the waterfall, and be my grandchild until you’re able to return to your people.’ The young woman lived with the Thunder people for four years. Then, one day, they told her that they were going to move away from the Falls. 

    ’The white eyes are pushing in on us,’ they said. ‘You can go back to your people, but be careful not to touch anyone until you’re like them again.’ The Thunder beings also spoke to the woman’s people and told them to accept her as one of themselves again. ’Don’t try to touch her, or ask her to handle anything,’ they said. ‘Let her be one of the people, and she will be like you once more.’     

It was four more years before the power of the Thunder wore away from the young woman, but she was eventually able to be one of the people. She met a man, and they raised a large family. The Thunder had spoken with the people, but that was the last time that anyone ever heard from the Thunder beings again."

TOURS SILENT ON MAID OF THE MIST

"NIAGARA FALLS News"

The Maid of the Mist Corp. will no longer tell a tale Indians consider racist when it takes tourist on trips near Niagara Falls. The company changed it's policy after Indian leaders threatened to leaflet and picket the tour boat operator's docks.

"We are very sensitive to the concerns of Native American people and want to ensure that we do not portray their heritage in an inappropriate manner," company President James Glynn told the Buffalo News on Thursday.

The controversy centered on a so called legend that was included in audio presentations on Maid of the Mist tour boats. The boats take passengers up the Niagara River close to the falls and are a popular tourist attraction.

The story tells of an Indian maiden who is sent over the falls in a canoe as ahuman sacrifice. But Indian leaders-including Bill `Grandpa Bear' Swanson, executive director of the state chapter of the American Indian Movement (AIM)-as well as local historians say the version of the tour boats is a mistelling of the Maid of the Mist legend.

The original story comes from the Seneca Indian tribe, they say, and involves a young woman who marries three times. Each time her husband dies suddenly. Distraught by her losses, she attempts suicide by going over the falls.

Historians have found no evidence that local tribes ever practiced human sacrifice. Allan Jamieson, Director of NENTO, a Native American arts and cultural organization, welcomed the decision to drop the story.

"It looks like they're going to cancel any reference to the false legend," he said.

Glymm said that from now on guides will tell curious tourists to conduct their own research if they want to know why the boats are called the Maid of the Mist.

History Timeline

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The Old Scow

The dumping scow, marooned in the upper rapids just above the Falls and opposite the Greenhouse has been there since August 6, 1918. It is a mute reminder of near tragedy and a spectacular rescue. The steel barge, loaded with rock and with three men aboard, was being towed to the upper river by a Hydro tug when its tow line broke and it set adrift. Fortunately, the men thought to open the dumping hatches in the bottom of the craft and the scow was grounded 767 m from the brink of the falls. Frantic efforts were made to rescue the men all that night and until late the next day. Finally a breeches-buoy was rigged from a powerhouse on shore to the rig. After several attempts were made to throw a line across to the rig the line became tangled, preventing the buoy from reaching the barge.

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Niagara Trivia:

• It is estimated that 12,000 years ago when the falls were formed, the edge of the falls was as much as seven miles further down river than it is today. Until the 1950s, when the flow of water began to be controlled, the brink of the falls moved backward an estimated three feet every year because of erosion.

• The water that runs over the falls comes from the Great Lakes. Ninety percent of the water goes over the Horseshoe Falls. Originally, as much as 5.5. billion gallons of water per hour flowed over the falls. Today the amount is controlled by the Canadian and American governments to slow erosion. In addition, some of the water is diverted to provide power for the United States and Canada, making Niagara Falls the largest source of electric power in the world. 
  
• The Horseshoe Falls are 170 feet high. The brink of the falls is approximately 2,500 feet from one side to the other.
  
• The American Falls are 180 feet high and 1,100 feet long. 
  
• The river below Niagara Falls averages 170 feet deep. Daredevils who go over the falls usually hit the bottom of the river before popping back to the surface.

• Niagara Falls has been one of the most popular destinations for honeymooners in the world since promoters for the area helped institute "honeymooning" as a tradition in the mid-nineteenth century. The 1953 film Niagara starred Marilyn Monroe as a honeymooner with a wandering eye. The film marked Monroe's explosion as a film phenom—perhaps because the film features a full two minutes of Monroe's soon-to-be-famous backside as she walks toward the falls for a better view. 
  
• Twelve million tourists from all over the world visit Niagara Falls every summer.

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American Falls

Height 184 ft (56 m)
Width 1060 ft (320 m)
Volume of flow 10% of total

Horseshoe Falls
Height 176 ft (54m) Width 2200 ft (675m)
Volume of flow 90% of total

Total Flow Over Falls
April 1-Sept 15: 100,000 cu ft/sec (2830 cu m/sec) (8am-10pm)
Sept. 16-Oct. 31: 100,000 cu ft/sec (2830 cu m/sec) (8am-8pm)
All other times: 50,000 cu ft/sec (1415 cu m/sec)

Total Average Flow of Niagara River (before diversion for electricity) 202,000 cu ft/sec (5720 cu m/sec)

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