Does Niagra Falls fall the wrong way?

Question

The elevations of the Great Lakes show a descending pattern: Superior, 600 ft; Michigan, 581 ft; Huron, also about 581 ft; Erie, 571 ft; and Ontario 246 ft. (www.michigan.gov/dev/)

Niagra Falls is between Erie and Ontario. The pictures always seem to show the flow at the falls facing West. Wouldn't it flow from West (Erie) to East (Ontario)? So is Niagra Falls flowing the wrong way?

Answer 1

Very clever of you to notice. As you can tell from most of the answers, most people miss that point.

Although the river flows basically south-southeast to north-northwest, it curves around to the west as it approaches the Falls and then curves back more to the north as it approaches Lake Ontario.

Answer 2

Niagara Falls Flow

Answer 3

Unlike most rivers in North America, the Niagara River flows north. Although approximately only 35 feet long, the Niagara River drops 326 feet along its course, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Answer 4

No, there is no right or wrong way. Rivers flow from the higher elevation to a lower one. The Niagara flows from lake Erie at 571 ft above sea level to lake Ontario at about 270 ft above sea level. The difference is Niagara Falls where the elevation drops significantly.

Answer 5

The Niagara is a very short river, and actually primarily flows north (from Erie to Ontario).

Answer 6

The Niagra River flows in a north-westerly direction, so it's not flowing the wrong way.

For that matter, the Panama Canal's Pacific side is slightly east of the Atlantic side.

Answer 7

"Wouldn't it flow from West (Erie) to East (Ontario)?"

It does.

"So is Niagra Falls flowing the wrong way?"

No.

Answer 8

Yes, unfortunately Niagara Falls is flowing the wrong way. We've given it a stern lecture and have threatened a spanking.

Answer 9

The pictures are always taken from the Canadian side,Falls flowing right to left,or East!!

Answer 10

Technically there is no Wrong Way simply because water flows down hill