Turning Off Niagara Falls
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
Canada
December 30, 2016 8:22am CST
Yesterday I ran across someone's post ( from a year ago at least) about Turning off Niagara Falls. Because I live less than 30 minutes from the falls I wondered if that was true.
So I googled it and it did happen in 1969 and it is in the plans for 2019. I didn't live here in the 60's so I had no idea that it happened.
The reason is the bridges need to be repaired or rebuilt, they were built in the early 1900's, a long time ago.
An interesting read below also talks of people walking where the falls should be and what they found left behind.
The photos in the article below are very interesting too.
If this link doesn't work, google it and see for yourself.
The photo above I took while walking around the Falls in Winter a few years ago.
The American falls' dry rock patch would be a novelty and attract visitors, says a Canadian official, as the U.S. proposes shutting the tap to fix Goat Island bridges.
25 people like this
23 responses
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
30 Dec 16
How the heck do they turn off the falls. I am off to read the article.
4 people like this
@averygirl72 (37763)
• Philippines
31 Dec 16
Yeah that's sounds amazing. I read more about it too.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 @averygirl72 I'm sure you figured it out by now. There are two Falls at Niagara Falls. Both are important to the sightseeing tourist thing. From Canada you can see both right in your face, the better view is from Canada so bring your passport when you visit. The Horseshoe Falls is considered the Canadian Falls and the American falls are impressive but not as big as the Horseshoe.. In the American park there is two bridges over the river that makes the falls that is part of the tourist trip. They mentioned two bridges being replaced in the American Park... The river that makes the American Falls is much smaller than the Horseshoe part of the river. In the photos of the article the dry falls was from that small river in the American Park. That is the one they turn off by making a dam that makes the water go to the Horseshoe falls.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate It's a cool article and both my hubby and I loved the photos. Big money to turn off the falls, but the bridges need fixing.
3 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
3 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate I wonder what they do when the Falls are shut down? Close everything?
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
Only when they have to. Only on the American side, to do work on the two bridges in the American park. The river is an off shoot of the big river that makes the Horseshoe Falls. its easier to shut down with a dam.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111306)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jan 17
Yeah, I saw that @PainsOnSlate made me wonder what it must have looked like before anyone put bridges there.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111306)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jan 17
I can't recall hearing very much about it when I was a kid @PainsOnSlate All I ever knew about it was that newlyweds like to honeymoon there if they could afford the trip.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
They are natural but occasionally you can fool mother nature. The bridges on the island up top of the American falls need to be replaced so they dam the entry to the falls river and let the water continue to the Horseshoe Falls, You can see an aerial view on one of the photos in the article I attached to the story.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
30 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Your photo is beautiful.Turning off Nigra Falls is an interesting read.Thanks for the link.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate And I am looking forward to seeing your post and photo.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
If and when it happens I will be there with my camera.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
5 Jan 17
I think it would really be interesting to walk along on the riverbed and see what can be found.
If you get the chance, I hope you will take a metal detector with you and have a little stroll along the riverbed. You never know.... that diamond engagement ring Johnny gave little Sally right before she caught him cheating might be laying there waiting for some kind soul to give it a new home! 
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
6 Jan 17
@vandana7 No sharks in the Niagara River, you can swim all you want. There are fish to be caught and had for dinner but no sharks.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
5 Jan 17
I imagine there are lots of treasures in the river. I wonder if it will be fenced to keep nosy people out or if it will be walk able. Guess we will know in 2019.
2 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
30 Dec 16
i didn't even know turning it off was a possibility
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
Only part of the falls can be shut down and that is the American falls..
@snowy22315 (170706)
• United States
30 Dec 16
Yes, I know they did do it..Amazing what would be in the basin. I will have to look at the article, because I don't know what the rationale is.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
Here is another link, but the first one had the best photos -
It’s not nearly as crazy, difficult, expensive, or novel as it may sound.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
The two bridges across the river on the top of the American side are going to be rebuilt. That is why they will close the river and send the water to the horseshoe falls.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
31 Dec 16
I might have to visit when they do that. I know they're doing major renovations as I have been there a few times this year and can see some of the construction. That's a lovely picture... that's what I was hoping to see when hubby and I went up last weekend. Unfortunately it wasn't really cold or icy enough.. it was just wet and rainy!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
1 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate The area you took the picture from is currently blocked off for renovations. Luna Island is my favorite spot there.. but I couldn't get there when we went up last week.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
@katsmeow1213 I had no idea, I know they need to fix the bridges so maybe that is why. I like going on the American side and driving to the parking lots (free in the winter) and walk the cold walk.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
I took the photo a few years ago, it was a perfect day sunny and colder than a brass toilet seat in the Klondike... I cross the border to shop usually once a month i don't remember what month the photo was taken but it probably was early spring.
@vandana7 (99009)
• India
7 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate .. They use it...they can't afford not to...the cities would come to grinding halt.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
7 Jan 17
I hope they don't use it if it isn't safe.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate That's great. I hope you are able to get some pictures to share here.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
I will be there when it happens if I'm still here....
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118625)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Dec 16
I've been to Niagra Falls once in my life. I could never imagine that they could shut off the falls. That's a pretty amazing fete!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
I intend to be there and get photos. The Horseshoe Falls will carrry all the water over the falls, the Americana falls will be dry.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Just a part of the falls, the American Falls, they will force the water to go to the Canadian Falls so the American Falls can be dry so they can build two new bridges in the NY park.
1 person likes this
you got that right...@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
2 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate Now I understood , the water comes from different parts to Niagara.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
It is a beautiful place if you ignore all the touristy stuff..
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
2 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate We've learned how to shun touristy stuff, the hard way!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
31 Dec 16
Well that certainly does sound like something that will attract a lot of tourists.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48459)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
This is a really interesting read, I remember when the falls froze over a couple of years ago, we almost went to see it, but it just seemed like everybody that you talked to was doing the same thing, and we though it might be a little too crowded for our liking. And then we got a bad snow storm anyways, so we were glad we stayed at home. But this I wouldn't mind seeing-regardless of the crowds.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
We have gone to the falls to see the ice bridge and some other natural ice things and every time we get there it has fallen down; still impressive with the amount of ice everywhere but disappointing too. I will be there for the dry falls if its possible...
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
31 Dec 16
Please remind us when it is close to the time in 2019!
It would be great fun.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
I will, if I'm still around... I look forward to seeing it happen...
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
2 Jan 17
I thought I added a video of the falls frozen but I don't see the video anywhere - oh well, anyone can look on line and see all the ice from the mist. I didn't know it was possible either...
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
31 Dec 16
What a fascinating article. I love hearing from you about Niagara falls and have been very lucky to have visited both sides. I love it there it is a fantastic sight. Happy New Year to you.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Thanks you, so glad you enjoyed the article. Happy New Year right back at YOU!
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
31 Dec 16
I like to see both, with and without water.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 Jan 17
The HorseShoe Falls will continue to fall, the work is on the American side, both are interesting and it will be interesting to see the American falls with no water falling.
