How do ships get past Niagara Falls?

The Welland Canal lock system connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, enabling vessels to bypass Niagara Falls. And the St. Lawrence Seaway lock system has tamed the St. Lawrence River, enabling ships to sail from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean since 1959.



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On August 6, 1918, a dumping scow broke loose from its towing tug in the rapids of the upper Niagara River with Gustav F. Lofberg and James H. Harris aboard. The men opened the bottom dumping doors and the scow grounded in the shallow rapids, only 600 metres from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls.

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See Niagara Falls up close on a stunning boat cruise followed by a guided walking tour and visit to Journey Behind the Falls. Choose between our two morning tours for an unforgettable experience.

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It is estimated that over 2,000 ships have been lost in Lake Erie; nearly 600 are believed to be in Ohio waters. To help document Ohio's maritime heritage, the State Historic Preservation Office created an inventory form that focuses on the specific details of a ship's character.

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On August 6, 1918, a dumping scow with two men aboard broke loose from its towing tug and became lodged in the rapids of the upper Niagara River.

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The reason for the “pirate Michigan” in the ad was because it was decorated to look like a pirate ship with human shaped dummies tied to the deck. Contrary to the advertisement of panthers, wild cats and wolves, the actual animals included a buffalo, two small bears, two raccoons, a dog and a goose.

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More than 6,000 human remains, each with its narrative, have been discovered in the Niagara Falls region as the water has receded over the years.

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On June 5th, 1990, Jesse Sharp became the first and only man to successfully ride a kayak over the legendary horseshoe falls at Niagara. Sharp was a veteran of whitewater, being well-known in the area of Tennessee's Ocoee River.

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The feat was not repeated until September 1911 when Thomas William Burgess swam across after numerous failed attempts. Death: Killed while attempting to swim the rapids below the Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border on July 24, 1883. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, New York State.

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No accidents or injuries have occurred on the Maid of the Mist except when one of the vessels was disabled when a drift log fouled it's propellers.

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There are actually three falls; the American and Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The U.S. owns the first two and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls is owned by Canada. Ten percent of the Niagara River flows over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and the remaining 90% over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

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People do not recommend swimming in the Niagara River, nor is it allowed in most areas. The river has strong currents, turbulent rapids, and unpredictable undertows, especially in the Lower Niagara River below Niagara Falls.

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