Horseshoe Falls
American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Canadian Falls on the USA and Canadian border are collectively known as Niagara Falls. One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes of Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over the Falls.
At the bottom of the Falls the water travels 24kms over many gorges until it reaches the fifth Great Lake-Ontario. The land between the lakes does not slope at an even grade, but forms a spectacular drop approximately the same height as a 20 story building and this is known as the “Niagara Escarpment”.
Horseshoe Falls also known as Canadian Falls is the largest of the three falls with a width of 821m and a height of 51m. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation flows over Horseshoe Falls.
