Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls straddling the United States-Canada border between Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side is the largest of the three, carrying approximately 90 percent of the combined flow over a 170-foot drop and a curved crest 2,600 feet wide — it is one of the highest-flow waterfalls on Earth by volume. The American Falls and smaller Bridal Veil Falls are on the US side. Together they produce a perpetual roar audible for miles and a mist column visible from 25 miles away on clear days. From the US side, Niagara Falls State Park — the oldest state park in the United States, established in 1885 — provides the primary visitor infrastructure including overlooks, a visitor center, and the Maid of the Mist boat tour boarding area. The Maid of the Mist takes visitors into the basin directly below the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, offering the closest possible view of the full cataract. All passengers receive blue plastic ponchos against the heavy mist; cameras and phones require waterproofing. The Cave of the Winds experience on Goat Island descends to platforms at the base of Bridal Veil Falls, putting visitors within feet of the falling water. From the Canadian side, Table Rock provides an unobstructed view looking directly into the Horseshoe Falls from above — many consider it the finest single vantage point. Niagara Falls is dramatically illuminated each night by colored lights after sunset, and fireworks are staged on summer weekend evenings from the Canadian side. A passport is required to cross the border and access Canadian-side attractions.