Niagara River

The Niagara River flows to the north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It serves as part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States.

Related Topics:
Lake Erie - Lake Ontario - Ontario - Canada - New York - United States

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The river is about 56 kilometres (35 miles) long and includes Niagara Falls along its course. The falls are thought to have moved upstream 11 kilometers (7 miles) in the last 12,000 years but modern diversion of the river for power generation has reduced the erosion to a minuscule amount.

Related Topics:
Niagara Falls - Power generation

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Power plants on the river are the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station, built in 1954 on the Canadian side, and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, built in 1961 on the American side. The sites generate 4.4 gigawatts of electricity combined. The river flow is also regulated by the International Control Works built in 1954. Shipping on the Great Lakes bypasses the Niagara River and Falls using the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, located on the Canadian side.

Related Topics:
Adam Beck - Great Lakes - Falls - Welland Canal - Saint Lawrence Seaway

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The total drop in elevation along the river is 99 meters (326 feet). The Upper Niagara Rapids drop 15 m in the 800 m before the Falls. The Niagara Gorge extends 11.26 km (7 mi.) downstream from the Falls and includes the Niagara Whirlpool and another section of rapids.

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The Niagara River features two large islands, Grand Island and Goat Island, both in the United States. The western end of the Erie Canal is near Grand Island. Goat Island and the tiny Luna Island split Niagara Falls into its three sections, the Horseshoe, Bridal Veil, and American Falls. Navy Island, on the Canadian side, is near the north end of Grand Island, and Strawberry Island lies southeast of Grand Island.

Related Topics:
Grand Island - Goat Island - Erie Canal - Navy Island

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The Niagara River and its tributaries, Tonawanda Creek and the Welland River, formed part of the last section of the Erie Canal and Welland Canal. After leaving Lockport, New York, the Erie Canal proceeds southwest until it enters Tonawanda Creek. After entering the Niagara River, watercraft then proceed southward to the final lock, where a short section of the canal allows boats to avoid the turbulent shoal water at the river intake and enter Lake Erie. The first, second and third Welland Canals used the Welland River as a connection back to the Niagara River south of the falls, allowing water traffic to safely re-enter the Niagara River and proceed to Lake Erie.

Related Topics:
Tonawanda Creek - Welland River - Lockport, New York

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Cities on the Niagara River include:

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• Buffalo, New York
• Fort Erie, Ontario
• Lewiston, New York
• Niagara Falls, New York
• Niagara Falls, Ontario
• Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
• North Tonawanda, New York
• Queenston, Ontario

Several battles occurred along the Niagara River which was historically defended by Fort George (Canadian side) and Fort Niagara (American side) at the mouth of the river and Fort Erie (Canadian side) at the head of the river. These forts were important in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Queenston Heights took place near the river in the War of 1812.

Related Topics:
Fort George - Fort Niagara - Fort Erie - French and Indian War - American Revolutionary War - Battle of Queenston Heights - War of 1812

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On the Canadian side of the river the Niagara Parks Commission maintains all of the shoreline property, except the sites of Fort George and Fort Erie, as a public greenspace and environmental heritage.

Related Topics:
Niagara Parks Commission - Fort George - Fort Erie

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Niagara River: Crossings ►