Luna Island is a very small uninhabited island in 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) ...

, in the U.S. 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 * '' ...

Location and features

Luna Island is in

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara ...

between Goat Island and

Niagara Falls State Park Niagara Falls State Park is located in the City of Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York, United States. The park, recognized as the oldest state park in the United States, contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of ...

. It is between the

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 Bridal Veil Falls, Bridalveil Falls or Bridalveil Fall is a frequently-used name for waterfalls that observers fancy resemble a bride's veil: Australia * Bridal Veil Falls, Leura, in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales * Govetts Le ...

, which are two of the three

waterfalls A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

that make up

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, ...

. It is approximately wide (between the two falls) and long (extending upstream from the falls). The geology of the island is

dolomite Dolomite may refer to: *Dolomite (mineral), a carbonate mineral *Dolomite (rock), also known as dolostone, a sedimentary carbonate rock *Dolomite, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community *Dolomite, California, United States, an unincor ...

rock and concrete base in the area around the falls.

White cedar White cedar may refer to several different trees: * Bignoniaceae ** ''Tabebuia heterophylla'' - native to Caribbean islands and also cultivated as an ornamental tree * Cupressaceae: ** ''Chamaecyparis thyoides'' – Atlantic white cypress ** ''Cup ...

trees cover the south end of the island and shrubs along north end. The original wooden bridge to the island, added in the 1800s, was replaced in the 20th century.

Spectator opportunities

Spectators can view the falls from Luna Island and the proximate Goat Island, both of which are accessible by pedestrian bridges that cross the rapids of the

upstream from the falls. Spectators on Luna Island can stand a few feet away from the Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls by walking across the island. Representatives of the nearby

Schoellkopf Geological Museum The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, also known as the Schoellkopf Geological Museum, is on the American side of Niagara Falls within Niagara Falls State Park and the city of Niagara Falls, New York. It opened in 1971. Its role is to showcase the na ...

often come to Luna Island where they bring photographs and answer questions about Niagara Falls.

Name

The island is said to derive its name from the ability of an observer, when standing on the island during a full moon, to see "lunar rainbows" in the Niagara mist.

References

External links

Map of Luna Island
{{authority control Islands of Niagara County, New York Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, New York Islands of the Niagara River River islands of New York (state) Islands of New York (state) Uninhabited islands of New York (state)