I`ve never been to Niagra Fall`s, do you think this will be ever seen again, below link,?

Question

http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/niagarafalls.asp

current climate etc... .

Answer 1

It would be highly unlikely that Niagara Falls will ever completely freeze over. Not because of global warming (which, by the way, is a complete hoax), but because of the way the river flows, and modern hydro-electric plants.

The tremendous amount of water going over the Falls prevents it from freezing for the most part. Even in prolonged periods of extreme cold weather, ice can form on the surface, but water will continue to flow over the crest underneath it.

Also, this photo pre-dates the ice boom. The ice boom is a series of chains and floating logs placed about 20 miles south of Niagara Falls, where the mouth of the Niagara River forms from the eastern end of Lake Erie in Fort Erie. This boom stops the majority of ice that has formed in Lake Erie from making it's way down the river.

The ice flowing down the river in previous decades and centuries would produce the illusion of frozen falls, as well as the ice bridge that would form at the bottom of the falls. These days, such large chunks of ice would do heavy damage to hydro-electric facilities located on the Upper Niagara River (portion south of the Falls) on either side of the border - hence the ice boom was built to prevent such damage.

Answer 2

Interesting. However, ever since records have been kept about the history of the Falls of Niagara, there has only been one time, on the evening of March 29th, 1848, when Niagara Falls has ever stopped (or reduced to a trickle) due to freezing. It froze for at least 30 hours.

http://www.iaw.com/~falls/faq.html#where

But it's still so interesting that it ever happened at all.
That picture from your website may be of the American Falls as the American Falls have frozen over on six occasions since the keeping of records began. Each were attributed to ice jams that have actually curtailed the flow of the American Falls to mere trickles.

Unlike the Falls of Niagara, the American Falls are susceptible to freezing because of the small amount of water flow. Normally the American Falls has a peak mean flow of 10,000 cubic feet of water per second. The winter mean water flow is reduced to less than 8,000 cubic feet of water per second. This minimal flow is barely sufficient to cover the rock face of the Falls. During harsh winters, ice frequently built up at eastern end of Goat Island causing an ice dam to reduce the water flow to the northern channel which feeds water to the American Falls. As a result water flow is restricted sufficiently that any remaining waters quickly freeze over.

The installation of the ice boom at the mouth of Lake Erie, the building of the International water control dam (which regulates water flow) and milder winters have all but eliminated the possibility of the American Falls ever completely freezing over in modern times.

In addition, having been able to see these freezings would have been just as interesting as witnessing the abscence of the "roar" (sound) of the Falls.

Take care.

PS. For anyone who has never thought about visiting the Canadian Falls during the winter, it is highly recommended. It's just beautiful here at this time of year.

http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/winter.html

Answer 3

Wow.. That's pretty impressive. Must have been dam cold for that to happen. With reference to your question, with the way the world is going, it looks like we will not see that type of extremely cold weather again. But who knows what might happen if we all pulled together and stopped the processes that are causing Global Warming. and set about making the World a better place for our offspring.

Answer 4

Yes there are lot of years they freeze solid i have been there three times and seen them frozen twice it is so cold there the spray from the falls freezes on you and your hair full of ice. There well worth a visit and even if globel warming increases i think they are safe for a least 100years.

Answer 5

i think it may very well happen again! maybe not in our lifetime but with climate shifts it could very well happen!

by the way you should so go to niagra falls its amazing, we went in 05 and went on the maid of the mist right into the middle of the horseshoe falls it was an unbeliveable experience!

Answer 6

Wow good photo,but no I dont think that will ever be seen again.Not with global warming.

Answer 7

NO
not with global warming

Answer 8

Probably, yes. It gets cold in Canada.

Answer 9

wow - with current global warming, it's doubtful.
thanks for sharing it with us.

Answer 10

probably not with global warming happening now a days.

neat pic. Thanks for sharing.