Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls that collectively form
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...
on the
Niagara River
The Niagara River () is a river that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the province of Ontario in Canada (on the west) and the state of New York (state), New York in the United States (on the east) ...
along the
Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for
hydropower generation, flows over Horseshoe Falls. The remaining 10% flows over
American Falls
The American Falls is the second-largest of the three waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada–U.S. border. Unlike the much larger Horseshoe Falls, of which approximately 90% is in Ontario ...
and
Bridal Veil Falls. It is located between
Terrapin Point on
Goat Island in the
US state of
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, and
Table Rock Table Rock may refer to:
Canada
* Table Rock, Niagara Falls, a former rock formation
** Table Rock Welcome Centre, a retail center near the site of Table Rock, Niagara Falls
United States
* Table Rock (Ada County, Idaho), a hill near Boise, Idah ...
in the
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North ...
of
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
.
["The international boundary line may pass through the Horseshoe Falls just beyond Terrapin Tower Point, so that the United States are not entitled to as large a portion as Canada of the Horseshoe Falls, which is admittedly not all Canadian." Statement of Mr. J Boardman Scovell. ''Preservation of Niagara Falls: hearings on the subject of H.R. 26688, Sixty-first Congress, second session, relating to the control and regulation of the waters of Niagara River and the preservation of Niagara Falls, held before the Committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives.'' U.S. G.P.O., 1911]
International border
When the boundary line between the United States and Canada was determined in 1819, based on the
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent () was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands (now in ...
, the northeastern end of the Horseshoe Falls was in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States, flowing around the Terrapin Rocks, which were once connected to
Goat Island by a series of bridges. In 1955, the area between the rocks and Goat Island was filled in, creating
Terrapin Point.
In the early 1980s the
filled in more land and built diversion dams and retaining walls to force the water away from Terrapin Point. Altogether, of the Horseshoe Falls was eliminated. Due to erosion, the falls will continue to move in relation to the boundary line in the future.
The official national maps for both Canada and the United States indicate that a small portion of the Horseshoe Falls is located within the United States.
Gallery
File:15 23 1033 niagara.jpg, Horseshoe Falls at night
File:Horseshoe Falls, viewed from Table Rock Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.jpg, Horseshoe Falls, viewed from Table Rock Centre
The Table Rock Welcome Centre (also known as Table Rock Centre and formerly as Table Rock House) is a retail and observation complex located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada at the brink of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, several hundred feet south ...
in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is on the western bank of the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario, with a population of 88,071 at the 2016 census. It is part of the St. Catharines - Niagara Census M ...
File:Behind Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side.jpg, alt=from a platform behind the falls., View from beside and behind Horseshoe Falls
File:Horseshoe Falls 2017.ogg, Horseshoe Falls, viewed from the Maid of the Mist tour boat
File:Horseshoefallsonel.jpg, A view of Horseshoe Falls with the Canadian flag at night time.
See also
*
Niagara Parks Commission
The Niagara Parks Commission, commonly shortened to Niagara Parks, is an agency of the Government of Ontario which maintains the Ontario shoreline of the Niagara River.
History
The Commission was founded in 1885 and charged with preserving and ...
*
American Falls
The American Falls is the second-largest of the three waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada–U.S. border. Unlike the much larger Horseshoe Falls, of which approximately 90% is in Ontario ...
*
Bridal Veil Falls (Niagara Falls)
The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. It is located on the American side (in New York State); Luna Island separates it from the American Falls and Goat Island separates it from the Horseshoe ...
*
Iroquois mythology
Mythology of the Iroquois includes the creation stories and folktales of the Native Americans who formed the confederacy of the Five Nations, later the Six Nations. Historically, these stories were recorded in wampum and recited, only being w ...
References
{{Reflist
Niagara Falls
Waterfalls of Ontario
Waterfalls of New York (state)
Tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Block waterfalls
Landforms of Niagara County, New York
Protected areas of Niagara County, New York
Plunge waterfalls
Niagara Falls State Park