Niagara River

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Image:Rainbow seen from Horseshoe Falls looking toward Rainbow Bridge in winter.jpg

Niagara Glen features many treacherous rapids downstream of Niagara Falls

The Niagara River flows to the north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It serves as part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States.

The river, which is occasionally described as a "strait,"[1] is approximately 56 kilometres (35 mi) long and includes Niagara Falls along its course. The falls are thought to have moved upstream 11 kilometers (7 mi) in the last 12,000 years but modern diversion of the river for electricity generation has reduced the erosion to a minuscule amount.

Power plants on the river are the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations, on the Canadian side, and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, built in 1961 on the American side. The sites generate 4.4 gigawatts of electricity combined. The river flow is also regulated by the International Control Works built in 1954. Shipping on the Great Lakes bypasses the Niagara River and Niagara Falls using the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, located on the Canadian side.

The total drop in elevation along the river is 99 meters (326 ft). The Upper Niagara Rapids drop 800 meters (2600 ft) before the Falls. The Niagara Gorge extends 11.26 km (7 mi) downstream from the Falls and includes the Niagara Whirlpool and another section of rapids.

The Niagara River features two large islands, Grand Island and Goat Island, both in the United States. The western end of the Erie Canal is near Grand Island. Goat Island and the tiny Luna Island split Niagara Falls into its three sections, the Horseshoe, Bridal Veil, and American Falls. Navy Island, on the Canadian side, is near the north end of Grand Island, while Strawberry Island and Motor Island lies southeast of Grand Island. Squaw Island lies further upstream, alongside the city of Buffalo.

The Niagara River and its tributaries, Tonawanda Creek and the Welland River, formed part of the last section of the Erie Canal and Welland Canal. After leaving Lockport, New York, the Erie Canal proceeds southwest until it enters Tonawanda Creek. After entering the Niagara River, watercraft then proceed southward to the final lock, where a short section of the canal allows boats to avoid the turbulent shoal water at the river intake and enter Lake Erie. Welland Canals used the Welland River as a connection back to the Niagara River south of the falls, allowing water traffic to safely re-enter the Niagara River and proceed to Lake Erie.

Population centers along the Niagara River include:

Several battles occurred along the Niagara River which was historically defended by Fort George (Canadian side) and Fort Niagara (American side) at the mouth of the river and Fort Erie (Canadian side) at the head of the river. These forts were important in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Queenston Heights took place near the river in the War of 1812.

The river was an important route to liberation before the American Civil War, when many African-Americans escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad crossed it to find freedom in Canada.

On the Canadian side of the river the Niagara Parks Commission maintains all of the shoreline property, except the sites of Fort George and Fort Erie, as a public greenspace and environmental heritage.

Today, the river is the namesake of Niagara Herald Extraordinary at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

1 Crossings
2 Islands
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Crossings

This is a list of bridges and other crossings of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario upstream to Lake Erie.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Bridge	Route	Location
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge	Image:Ontario 405.png Highway 405 Image:I-190.svg I-190	Queenston, Ontario and Lewiston, New York
Whirlpool Rapids Bridge		Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
Michigan Central Railway Bridge	Canadian Pacific Railway	Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
Rainbow Bridge		Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
North Grand Island Bridge	Image:I-190.svg I-190	Grand Island, New York and Niagara Falls, New York
South Grand Island Bridge	Image:I-190.svg I-190	Tonawanda, New York and Grand Island, New York
International Railway Bridge	Canadian National Railway	Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York
Peace Bridge	Image:QEW.PNG Queen Elizabeth Way	Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York

Two bridges over the east branch of the river - the South Grand Island Bridge and North Grand Island Bridge, forming part of I-190 (the Niagara Thruway) on the American side, provide a through road link across Grand Island, New York between Niagara Falls, New York and Buffalo, New York. The American Rapids Bridge and Niagara Scenic Trolley link Goat Island to the American shore.

[edit] Islands

Several islands are located on the upper river before the falls:

Navy Island - the only island within Canada and designated as a national historic park
Grand Island, New York - the largest island on the river; some parks, but mostly residential and industrial
Strawberry Island - a small park
Motor Island - a small park
Squaw Island - located in the city of Buffalo, New York and home to Broderick Park and a waste treatment facility
Tonawanda Island - occupied by marina and some industries
Buckhorn Island - park located on the north end of Grand Island
Goat Island - park located at the brink of the American Falls
Three Sisters Island - park located next to Goat Island
Green Island - park located near Goat Island
Luna Island - park located next to Goat Island
Cayuga Island - located on the Tonawanda side of the river and mainly residential