Niagara River

Niagara River
Satellite image of the Niagara River. Flowing from Lake Erie in the south (bottom of image) to Lake Ontario in the north, the river passes around Grand Island before going over Niagara Falls, after which it narrows in the Niagara Gorge. Two hydropower reservoirs are visible just before the river widens after exiting the gorge. The Welland Canal is visible on the far left side of this image. (Source: NASA Visible Earth)
Country	United States & Canada
Basin features
Main source	Lake Erie
River mouth	Lake Ontario
Basin size	684,000 km2 (264,000 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	58 km (36 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 5,796 m3/s (204,700 cu ft/s)

The Niagara River (/naɪˈæɡrə/ ny-AG-ra) 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 in the United States (on the east). There are differing theories as to the origin of the river's name. According to Iroquoian scholar Bruce Trigger, "Niagara" is derived from the name given to a branch of the locally residing native Neutral Confederacy, who are described as being called the "Niagagarega" people on several late-17th-century French maps of the area. According to George R. Stewart, it comes from the name of an Iroquois town called "Ongniaahra", meaning "point of land cut in two".

The river, which is occasionally described as a strait, is about 58 kilometres (36 mi) long and includes Niagara Falls in its course. The falls have moved approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) upstream from the Niagara Escarpment in the last 12,000 years, resulting in a gorge below the falls. Today, the diversion of the river for electrical generation has significantly reduced the rate of erosion.

Power plants on the river include the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations on the Canadian side, and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant (built in 1961) on the American side. Together, they generate 4.4 gigawatts of electricity. The International Control Works, built in 1954, regulates the river flow. Ships on the Great Lakes use the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, on the Canadian side of the river, to bypass Niagara Falls.

The total drop in elevation along the river is 99 metres (325 ft). The Niagara Gorge extends downstream from the Falls and includes the Niagara Whirlpool and another section of rapids.

The Niagara River also features two large islands and numerous smaller islands. Grand Island and Navy Island, the two largest islands, are on the American and Canadian sides of the river, respectively. Goat Island and the tiny Luna Island split Niagara Falls into its three sections, the Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. Unity Island lies further upstream, alongside the city of Buffalo.

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 Welland Canals used the Welland River as a connection to the Niagara River south of the falls, allowing water traffic to safely re-enter the Niagara River and proceed to Lake Erie.

The American Falls with Goat Island to its right.

History

Queenston, Ontario, then known as Queenstown, Upper Canada, in a c. 1805 watercolour by army surgeon Edward Walsh. The Niagara River is clearly visible.

The Niagara River and Falls have been known outside of North America since the late 17th century, when Father Louis Hennepin, a French explorer, first witnessed them. He wrote about his travels in A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America (1698).

The Niagara River was the site of the earliest recorded railway in America. It was an inclined wooden tramway built by John Montresor (1736–1799), a British military engineer, in 1764. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the movement of goods over the Niagara Escarpment in present-day Lewiston, New York.

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 during 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.

The river was an important route to liberation before the American Civil War, when many African-Americans escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad crossed it to find freedom in Canada. The Freedom Crossing Monument stands on the bank of the river in Lewiston to commemorate the courage of the escaping slaves and the local volunteers who helped them secretly cross the river.

In the 1880s, the Niagara River became the first waterway in North America harnessed for large-scale generation of hydroelectricity.

On the Canadian side of the river the provincial agency Niagara Parks Commission maintains all of the shoreline property, except the sites of Fort George and Fort Erie (both National Historic Sites are maintained federally by Parks Canada), as a public greenspace and environmental heritage.

On the American side, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation maintains several state parks that are adjacent to Niagara Falls and the Niagara River.

Today, the river is the namesake of Niagara Herald Extraordinary at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Cities and settlements

The Spanish Aero Car crossing the Niagara Whirlpool

Sign in Niagara Falls, Ontario, warning people not to climb over guard rail overlooking the Niagara River

Cities and towns along the Niagara River include:

Name	Country
Buffalo	United States
Chippawa	Canada
Fort Erie	Canada
Lewiston	United States
Grand Island	United States
Niagara Falls	United States
Niagara Falls	Canada
Niagara-on-the-Lake	Canada
North Tonawanda	United States
Porter	United States
Queenston	Canada
Tonawanda (City)	United States
Tonawanda (Town)	United States
Wheatfield	United States
Youngstown	United States

Pollution

The Niagara River is listed as a Great Lakes Areas of Concern in The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.

Crossings

Main article: List of crossings of the Niagara River

The Niagara River has a long history of both road and rail bridges spanning the river, both upstream and downstream of the Falls. This history includes numerous bridges that have fallen victim to the harsh conditions of the Niagara Gorge, such as landslides and icepacks.

Parks

Niagara Glen features many rapids downstream of Niagara Falls

The following parks are located along the Niagara River:

Name	Country
Beaver Island State Park	United States
Bowen Road Park	Canada
Broderick Park	United States
Browns Point Park	Canada
Buckhorn Island State Park	United States
De Veaux Woods State Park	United States
Dufferin Islands Natural Area	Canada
Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park	United States
Falkner Park	United States
Fisherman's Park	United States
Floral Clock Park	Canada
Fort George National Historic Site	Canada
Fort Niagara State Park	United States
Gratwick Riverside Park	United States
Griffon Park	United States
Jayne Park	United States
Joseph Davis State Park	United States
King's Bridge Park	Canada
MacFarland Park	Canada
Niagara Falls State Park	United States
Niagara Glen Nature Reserve	Canada
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens	Canada
Nike Base Park	United States
Queen's Parada Park & Memorial Park	Canada
Queenston Heights	Canada
Riverside Park	United States
Strawberry Island State Park	United States
Sugar Bowl Park	Canada
Veterans Memorial Park	United States
Queen Victoria Park	Canada
Whirlpool State Park	United States

A Niagara River Greenway Plan is in progress in the United States.

Hydrologic Features

HYDROLOGIC FEATURES OF THE NIAGARA RIVER

Feature	Location	Country	Notes	Photo
Source of Niagara River	42.904325°N 78.905869°W / 42.904325; -78.905869	Canada United States	The Niagara River originates at the north-east end of Lake Erie, and flows north to its mouth at Lake Ontario.
Black Rock Canal	42.90706°N 78.902053°W / 42.90706; -78.902053	United States	Black Rock Canal flows within and parallel to the east shore of the Niagara river near Buffalo, New York, and was built to extend the navigation period in the Niagara River through a greater part of the winter. The canal begins at Buffalo Harbor, on the north-east shore of Lake Erie, then flows north, ending at the Black Rock Lock near the north tip of Unity Island. The canal is buffered from the Niagara River by Bird Island Pier at its south end, and Unity Island at its north end.
Gould Ditch	42.920689°N 78.911785°W / 42.920689; -78.911785	Canada	Historic tributary. Once served as a drainage ditch for Gould National Battery plant.
Scajaquada Creek	42.929091°N 78.899056°W / 42.929091; -78.899056	United States	Tributary.
Frenchman's Creek	42.942648°N 78.927391°W / 42.942648; -78.927391	Canada	Tributary.
Chippawa Channel	42.953344°N 78.937626°W / 42.953344; -78.937626	Canada United States	The north-flowing Niagara River bifurcates at the south tip of Grand Island (both sections rejoin at the north tip). "Chippawa Channel" is the river passage on the west side of Grand Island.
Miller Creek	42.955315°N 78.97537°W / 42.955315; -78.97537	Canada	Tributary.
Tonawanda Channel	42.960757°N 78.929386°W / 42.960757; -78.929386	United States	When the Niagara River bifurcates at Grand Island, the east passage—from the south tip of Grand Island, to a point just north of Tonawanda, New York—is the "Tonawanda Channel".
Baker Creek	42.972761°N 79.008039°W / 42.972761; -79.008039	Canada	Tributary.
Black Creek	42.980999°N 79.023499°W / 42.980999; -79.023499	Canada	Tributary.
Boyer's Creek	43.00194°N 79.029508°W / 43.00194; -79.029508	Canada	Tributary.
Two Mile Creek	43.010845°N 78.906555°W / 43.010845; -78.906555	United States	Tributary.
Little River (at Tonawanda Island)	43.022926°N 78.884969°W / 43.022926; -78.884969	United States	Flows between Tonawanda Island and the New York mainland, within the Tonawanda Channel.
Tonawanda Creek	43.02338°N 78.881707°W / 43.02338; -78.881707	United States	Tributary.
Spicer Creek	43.025279°N 78.894153°W / 43.025279; -78.894153	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Big Sixmile Creek	43.026494°N 79.011773°W / 43.026494; -79.011773	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Little Sixmile Creek	43.028502°N 79.010217°W / 43.028502; -79.010217	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Niagara River Channel	43.035772°N 78.893809°W / 43.035772; -78.893809	United States	When the Niagara River bifurcates at Grand Island, the east passage—from a point just north of Tonawanda, New York, to the north tip of Grand Island—is the "Niagara River Channel".
Gun Creek	43.049455°N 78.915728°W / 43.049455; -78.915728	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Usshers Creek	43.051282°N 79.022577°W / 43.051282; -79.022577	Canada	Tributary.
Burnt Ship Creek	43.060987°N 78.997493°W / 43.060987; -78.997493	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Woods Creek	43.062335°N 78.976958°W / 43.062335; -78.976958	United States	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Welland River	43.062711°N 79.047961°W / 43.062711; -79.047961	Canada	Historic tributary. Became a man-made distributary—from the Niagara River to a point 5 km west—in order to supply water to an intake channel for Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Underwater intake tunnel to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations	43.067124°N 79.053959°W / 43.067124; -79.053959	Canada
Little River (at Cayuga Island)	43.073167°N 78.951724°W / 43.073167; -78.951724	United States	Flows between Cayuga Island and the New York mainland, within the Niagara River Channel.
Cayuga Creek	43.075894°N 78.962753°W / 43.075894; -78.962753	United States	Tributary.
Underwater intake for tunnel to Niagara Power Project	43.07725°N 79.015796°W / 43.07725; -79.015796	United States
Horseshoe Falls	43.077289°N 79.075127°W / 43.077289; -79.075127	Canada	Located between the Canadian mainland and Goat Island, New York, the Horseshoe Falls is the largest, and most south-western of three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. There is dispute as to whether the Horseshoe Falls lies entirely within Canada (see Niagara Falls#History).
Gill Creek	43.078292°N 79.025838°W / 43.078292; -79.025838	United States	Tributary.
Goat Island Channel	43.080612°N 79.060535°W / 43.080612; -79.060535	United States	The Niagara River bifurcates at the south-east tip of Goat Island. "Goat Island Channel" is the north-east passage around the island.
Bridal Veil Falls	43.083781°N 79.070776°W / 43.083781; -79.070776	United States	Located between Goat Island and Luna Island, Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest (and middle) of the three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. It is entirely within the US.
American Falls	43.084866°N 79.069462°W / 43.084866; -79.069462	United States	Located between Luna Island and the New York mainland, the American Falls is the most northern and second largest of three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. It is located entirely within the US.
Muddy Run Falls	43.114972°N 79.06252°W / 43.114972; -79.06252	Canada	Historic tributary which entered the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. Development above Muddy Run Falls destroyed its water supply.
Whirlpool Rapids	43.116006°N 79.062488°W / 43.116006; -79.062488	Canada United States
Colt's Creek Falls	43.119757°N 79.071929°W / 43.119757; -79.071929	Canada	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of the canal to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Niagara Whirlpool	43.120219°N 79.069526°W / 43.120219; -79.069526	Canada United States	The Niagara Whirlpool is a natural whirlpool along the Niagara River located along the Canada–US border between New York and Ontario. The whirlpool is located in the Niagara Gorge, downstream from Niagara Falls. The whirlpool's greatest depth is 125 feet (38 m).
Harvie Falls	43.12206°N 79.074311°W / 43.12206; -79.074311	Canada	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of the canal to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Devil's Hole Rapids	43.133547°N 79.050901°W / 43.133547; -79.050901	Canada United States
Bloody Run Falls	43.134987°N 79.047275°W / 43.134987; -79.047275	United States	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of Robert Moses State Parkway and other streets above the falls.
Niagara Power Project	43.142957°N 79.039807°W / 43.142957; -79.039807	United States
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations	43.147419°N 79.04406°W / 43.147419; -79.04406	Canada
Smeaton Falls	43.156275°N 79.045998°W / 43.156275; -79.045998	Canada	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Spring Cave Cascade	43.157348°N 79.044372°W / 43.157348; -79.044372	United States	Historic tributary which entered the Niagara River as a cascade from caves in the wall of the Niagara Gorge. Its source was destroyed following construction of the Niagara Power Project.
Fish Creek Falls	43.159018°N 79.04459°W / 43.159018; -79.04459	United States	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of the Niagara Power Project.
Locust Grove Falls	43.159183°N 79.047532°W / 43.159183; -79.047532	Canada	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Mouth of Niagara River	43.262722°N 79.070646°W / 43.262722; -79.070646	Canada United States

Islands

Several islands are located on the upper river upriver from the falls:

Name	Location	Country	Status	Notes
Bird Island	Buffalo	United States	Filled in	Connected to Unity Island in 1822 as part of improvements to Black Rock harbor.
Brother Island	Niagara Falls	United States		Located near Niagara Falls and the Three Sisters Islands.
Buckhorn Island	Grand Island	United States	Park	Located on the north end of Grand Island. A state park.
Cayuga Island	Niagara Falls	United States	Residential	Located at the mouth of Cayuga Creek; a residential neighborhood of the city.
Cedar Island		Canada	Filled in	Filled in by the creation of the William Birch Rankine Power Station by Canadian Niagara Power Company in 1905.
Deer Island	Niagara Falls	United States
Dufferin Islands	Niagara Falls	Canada	Park	Man-made islands. Parkland.
Frog Island		United States	Submerged/reconstructed	Was located in the Upper Niagara River between Motor Island and Strawberry Island. Disappeared due to erosion sometime between 1951 and 1985. Re-created beginning in 2007 as a habitat for fish, waterfowl, and aquatic plants.
Goat Island	Niagara Falls	United States		Park located at the brink of the American Falls, named by John Stedman in the 1770s; briefly renamed to Iris Island by General Augustus Porter, a United States Commissioner (after the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow).
Goose Island	City of Tonawanda	United States	Man-made/filled in	Was located at the confluence of Tonawanda Creek and the Tonawanda Channel of the Niagara River. Existed from 1825, when the Erie Canal was constructed (thereby cutting Goose Island off from the mainland) until the 1940s, when this portion of the canal was filled in.
Grand Island		United States	Developed	The largest island on the river; includes several parks, but is mostly residential and industrial; originally called Ga-We-Not (Great Island) by the Seneca.
Grass Island		United States	Filled in	Filled in during the 1960s to create the Robert Moses Parkway at Point Day.
Green Island	Niagara Falls	United States		Originally called Bath Island, it was renamed in the early 1900s for Niagara Reservation Commissioner Andrew H. Green.
Gull Island	Niagara Falls	Canada
Hogg Island		Canada	Filled in	Filled in by the creation of the Chippawa Queenston Power Canal in 1917 and finally by the Sir Adam Beck Dam #2 in 1950 by the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
Little Beaver Island	Grand Island	United States	Park	Located off the south end of Grand Island; part of Beaver Island State Park.
Luna Island	Niagara Falls	United States	Park	Park located next to Goat Island; originally called Prospect Island
Motor Island	Grand Island	United States	Park	Also known as Pirates' Island (the name of a private club once located there) and Frog Island (not to be confused with the Frog Island listed above). A New York State Wildlife Management Area.
Navy Island	Niagara Falls	Canada	Park	Designated as a National Historic Park.
Rattlesnake Island	Town of Tonawanda	United States	Filled in	Was located just south of what is today the South Grand Island Bridge. Was filled in sometime between 1915 and 1927, concurrent with the heavy industrial development of the area.
Robinson Island	Niagara Falls	United States		Named for daredevil Joel Robinson in 1860.
Ship Island & Brig Island		United States
Strawberry Island	Town of Tonawanda	United States	Park	A small island, formerly much larger but diminished by gravel mining and erosion. An undeveloped state park and wildlife preserve.
Three Sisters Islands	Niagara Falls	United States	Park	Park located next to Goat Island; was originally called Moss Islands and later renamed for the three daughters of War of 1812 United States Army General Parkhurst Whitney (Asenath, Angeline and Celinda Eliza) in 1843.
Tonawanda Island	North Tonawanda	United States	Developed	Occupied by a marina and several industries.
Tower Island		United States	Man-made	Man-made island created in 1942 by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Unity Island	Buffalo	United States	Developed	Home to Broderick Park, Unity Island Park, and a waste-water treatment facility.
Willow Island		United States	Man-made/filled in	Man-made island created in 1759 by Daniel Joncairs and filled in during the 1960s to create the Robert Moses Parkway.

Military posts

United States Coast Guard Fort Niagara Station was once a United States Army post. There are no Canadian Coast Guard posts along the river. Fort Mississauga, Fort George and Fort Erie are former British and Canadian military forts (last used 1953, 1965 and 1923 respectively) and are now parks.

Roads

On the Canadian side the Niagara Parkway travels along the River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.

NY 18F lines the river on the state side from Fort Niagara to Lewiston. Niagara Scenic Parkway on the state side only travels along the River from the Falls to Lewiston. The remaining river sections (with some interruptions) are covered by the LaSalle Expressway, NY 384, NY 266 and I-190 (Niagara Thruway) / New York Thruway.

See also

• List of international border rivers
• List of New York rivers
• List of Ontario rivers
• Whirlpool Aero Car

References

• Tiplin, Albert H.; Seibel, George A. and Seibel, Olive M. (1988) Our romantic Niagara: a geological history of the river and the falls Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 0-9690457-2-7

Further reading

• Hulbert, A. B. (1908). The Niagara River. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

External links

• Views of the Niagara River Niagara Falls Public Library (Ont.)
• Digital Images of the Islands of the Niagara River Niagara Falls Public Library (Ont.)
• Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
• Niagara Falls The Islands A History of the Niagara River Islands
• Niagara River from The Canadian Encyclopedia