Although waterfalls like the Victoria Falls were formed more than 3 million years ago, Niagara Falls is about 12,300 years old. While it is known that some iconic waterfalls such as Victoria Falls were formed more than 3 million years ago, the Niagara Falls is rather young.

Geologically speaking, Niagara Falls is quite young, not the oldest. It was formed approximately 12,500 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age as the melting Wisconsin glacier retreated, causing water from the newly formed Great Lakes to gouge a path through the Niagara Escarpment toward the Atlantic Ocean. In contrast, some of the world's oldest waterfalls, such as those in the Guiana Highlands of South America (home to Angel Falls), are hundreds of millions of years old. Niagara is, however, one of the "fastest-moving" waterfalls in terms of erosion; it has moved back roughly seven miles from its original location at Queenston/Lewiston due to the sheer volume and power of the water wearing away the rock. While it isn't a geological ancient, its impressive flow rate—over 6 million cubic feet per minute during peak hours—makes it a global wonder of the "modern" post-glacial era.