NIAGARA FALLS DRY

[Click each for a larger view]

In 1969, the US Army Corps of Engineers built a series of coffer dams which stopped or rather reduced the water flow over the American Falls to a mere trickle. This was done to allow a study of the rock formations at the crest of the Falls and to study the feasibility of whether there was any possible way to remove the rock (talus) at the base of the American Falls. In the end, the engineers decided to let mother nature take its course.

Check out this YouTube video of old footage (thanks to Harold T.)

Walking Uphill... Both Ways

This popular photo of Niagara Falls (circa 1911) was submitted by now out-of-towner Chris Fortin - thanks Chris! Funny thing about this photo - when I was a little kid, we had this photo hanging in the kitchen of the house I grew up in on Munson Avenue. My father always told us of his strife growing up and how he had to walk to school everyday in the freezing cold (y'know, the stories of walking uphill both ways barefoot on roads made of broken glass). Throughout my childhood I believed that this photo was my father and his school mates walking to school one frozen Niagara Falls morning! I also believed that he was my real father, but thats another story... (just kiddin' Pops!)

Here are a couple other amazing photos of our mighty Niagara Falls at a frozen standstill:

..