Connecting The Dots Project
When Humans Temporarily Halted Niagara Falls in 1969
Niagara Falls, one of the world's most celebrated natural wonders, has attracted countless visitors from around the world. But did you know that in 1969, humans temporarily halted its timeless flow for the first time in approximately 12,000 years? It might seem impossible, but it did indeed happen! So, if you're a conspiracy theorist who questions the Apollo moon landing due to the engineering competence of the time, learning about this incredible engineering feat that was accomplished in the same year might give you second thoughts about your belief!
HISTORY:
Before we discuss what we see on the pictures. Let’s go over the history of the Niagara Falls.
The history of Niagara Falls stretches back to the time of the Ice Age when melting ice released torrents of water, forming what we now know as the Niagara River. Geologically, Niagara Falls is relatively young, with its formation commencing around 12,000 years ago. It was during this time that water began to tumble over the Niagara Escarpment, a steep slope extending through New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. This escarpment, famous for its role as the precipice over which the Niagara River plunges, earned its name as the Niagara Escarpment. The formation of Niagara Falls has been an ongoing process, marked by slow erosion and periodic rockfalls. Even today, the annual freezing and thawing of the Niagara River continues to shape the falls and move them slightly upstream. However, modern influences, such as hydroelectric power diversion, have mitigated the rate of erosion.
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DISCOVERY:
So how were the falls discovered? This question sounds ridiculous to ask because you just can't miss Niagara Falls. They are so colossal!! Anyway, the Indigenous peoples of the Niagara region were likely the first to witness the awe-inspiring power of Niagara Falls. The first European to document this natural wonder was Father Louis Hennepin, a French priest who explored the area in 1678. His account of Niagara Falls, published in "A New Discovery," introduced the falls to the Western world and inspired further exploration of the region.
REPORT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE FALLS:
In 1965, the local Niagara Gazette sounded the alarm; years of relentless erosion, coupled with significant rockfalls in previous decades, had caused colossal boulders, known as talus, to accumulate at the falls' base. This mammoth pile totaled 3.5 million cubic feet and reached up to ten stories in height. At some points along the gorge, the rubble had astonishingly halved the height of the American Falls. The fear was that this natural wonder could slowly deteriorate and eventually transform into a series of rapids.
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RESPONDING TO THE LOCAL OUTCRY:
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The United States and Canada established the International Joint Commission and devised a master plan for one of the most incredible man-versus-nature feats in history. Starting on June 9, 1969, and spanning three days, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers orchestrated a breathtaking operation. Over 1,000 trucks dumped a staggering 28,000 tons of rock in a water passage between Goat Island and the Niagara Falls, New York mainland. This engineering marvel created a 600-foot-wide cofferdam upstream of the Falls. Once sealed watertight, this dam redirected the flow of the Niagara River away from the American Falls, causing it to dwindle to a historic trickle.
The American Falls remained dry for over five months, providing a unique opportunity for expert geologists to study the rocks while daring workers were lowered in safety cages by crane to remove unstable debris. Surprisingly, tourism didn't dwindle during this period. Crowds of up to 100,000 curious visitors flocked to witness this unprecedented spectacle during the first week alone. Many even stumbled upon coins that had been thrown into the Falls over the years. As for the rocks, while the International Joint Commission ordered the removal of unstable boulders and installed rockfall sensors along the cliff face, they wisely decided to leave much of the rocks in place to preserve natural conditions. Finally, on November 25, the cofferdam was deactivated, allowing nature and the mighty Niagara to reclaim their course.
There's also the possibility of witnessing a similar event in the future, as plans have been proposed to reduce the flow of the American Falls again, this time for repairing century-old bridges. However, funding approval is pending, making it uncertain when this might happen. Nevertheless, the events of 1969 remain a remarkable chapter in the history of Niagara Falls.
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HARNESS THE POWER OF THE NIAGARA:
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Niagara Falls' immense potential for power attracted industrialists who harnessed its force to drive mills and factories using water wheels. In 1895, the world's first large-scale hydroelectric generating station was inaugurated at Niagara Falls. Initially, it used direct current (DC) technology with limited transmission capabilities. However, in 1896, Nikola Tesla demonstrated the use of alternating current (AC) to transmit electricity from the fall to Buffalo, New York. This marked the first long-distance commercial application of AC, a system still used globally today.
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THE POWER OF THE FALLS TODAY:
Today, hydroelectricity is one of Niagara Falls' most significant contributions. Power plants on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls can generate up to 2.4 million kilowatts of electricity. Under an international treaty, water flow over Niagara Falls is reduced during the night to divert more water into the intakes for power generation, preserving the falls' natural beauty during peak viewing hours.
Sources:
https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/...
