I heard on a tv quiz show that Niagra Falls were switched off at night, how can this happen.?

Answer 1

In 2002, under pressure from environmental lobby groups, the Niagara Heritage Park Trust voted to implement a water-conservation policy 'for a trial period'. For the first time, the Falls were switched off at 10pm each night, and only re-started for the tourists at 9am (10am on Sundays).
During the tourist season (April 1st to Oct 31st) by agreement of the Canadian/American Governments, the water flowing over the Falls is maintained at 100,000 cubic feet per second. This level of water flow is what 12 million visitors come to see each year. In order to provide this level of water flow over the Falls, Ontario Hydro and the New York Power Authority can only draw a reduced amount of water so as not to interfere with the amount of water going over the Falls.

After dusk each night during the tourist season, the water flow rate going over the Falls is reduced to only 50,000 cubic feet per second. This allows the Hydro Authorities to draw more water for hydro generation.

During the night time, both Ontario Hydro and the New York State Power Authorities pump massive amounts of water into their gigantic water reservoirs in order to top them up. Ontario Hydro's reservoir is 212 acres and is smaller than the American Robert Moses Hydro reservoir. During the daytime when the water flow is increased over the Falls for the tourists, the hydro companies draw the water from their reservoirs for hydro generation to make up for any water deficit.

This is a cycle which occurs every day.

The only difference occurs between November 1st and April 1st of each year (non tourist season). During this period, the water rate of flow is reduced to 50,000 cubic feet per second on a 24 hour basis. Hydro draws the rest of the water for hydro generation. The reduced water flow and the lowering of the water level is the reason the Maid of the Mist boat has to be out of the water by October 31st each year.

The hydro control dam is jointly owned by Canada/USA. It is operated by Ontario Hydro by agreement. The reason its on Canadian side is that the water flows towards the Canadian side (the river bed slants). The water being drawn for hydro is strictly regulated. Ontario Hydro and New York State Power Authority have scheduled water drawing times. When the Americans are drawing water, the gates on the dam are closed. This causes the water to be forced to flow towards the water intakes on the American side. At times when Ontario Hydro is diverting water, the dam assists in directing water to their intakes as well.

The normal long term average rate of water flow in the Niagara River is 212,000 cubic feet per second so even on a summer day, approximately 100,000 cubic feet of water per second are being drawn for hydro generation.
i took it as like a big dam

Answer 2

Not entirely true, but not quite a joke either.

Just upstream of the Canadian falls is a hydro-electric powerplant. This is fed by a series of inlet sluices running across the width of the Niagara River.

Normally, the plant only takes as much water as is needed to keep the turbines spinning. However, once a year, the turbines are bypassed and the sluices are opened up wide, diverting the main flow of the river around the waterfall.

This reduces the flow over the falls to a trickle, allowing geologists and scientists a short while to study the cliff edge (a waterfall is just a river falling over a cliff) and measure its rate of erosion. The Niagra Falls, like all waterfalls, are slowly moving up river at a few centimetres per year as the cliff edge wears away.

Once the job is completed, the sluices are closed, and the water rushes over the falls once more.

Answer 3

Tee hee!

Yes, the Falls are fake and are operated by an elaborate system of pumps.

They employ a man to walk along the "sidewalk" and check till there are no tourists left, then they switch off the pumps to save money.

They switch it back on at 5 am.

All the local residents are in on this, as it's their taxes that are paying for the pumps.

Answer 4

somewhat, that is became off at nighttime. In that way we may be able to save water on the grounds that there are many less travelers there to visual show unit the falls. It only doesn't make economic experience. additionally they run it backwards two times a 365 days only so as that they could sparkling out the gunk that accumulates on the bottom of the falls. Its more on your price range to attempt this then to deliver adult males out in boats to clean up.

Answer 5

It has a huge switch that stops the water, the falls is just like any other fountain, the water keeps going around and around. Not a lot of people know that.

Answer 6

They use something similar to the Thames Flood Barrier, but much larger.

The build up of water is used to drive enormous turbines that provide the electricity to raise the barrier, so it's carbon neutral.

Answer 7

Hmmm...maybe the lights were shut off? It would be quite the engineering feat if they could stop the falls every night.

Answer 8

They close the sluice gates in the river upstream

Answer 9

a very large switch

Answer 10

A plumber with wings comes out and turns off the giant stopcock! .. all for 45p per hour .... you believed me until i said plumbers charge 45p and hour, didn't you? ... didn't you?