What happened to Niagara Falls in 1969?

In 1969, the US Army Corps of Engineers dumped 27,000 tons of rock to dam the Niagara River and stop the American Falls. They were assessing a growing pile of boulders at the bottom out of concern the falls could become rapids.



In June 1969, the United States Army Corps of Engineers "turned off" the American Falls for several months. By building a 600-foot temporary rock-and-earth cofferdam, they diverted the entire flow of the Niagara River over the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. This was done to study the geological composition of the riverbed and determine if the massive piles of "talus" (fallen rock) at the base should be removed for aesthetic reasons. Thousands of tourists flocked to see the dry, 100-foot-high cliff face, revealing coins, lost items, and even two skeletons. Ultimately, geologists decided the talus was necessary to support the cliff, and the water was "turned back on" in November 1969, returning the falls to their natural, thundering state.

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But no feat has attracted more visitors than a scientific survey conducted in 1969. That year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned off American Falls. The engineers wanted to find a way to remove the unseemly boulders that had piled up at its base since 1931, cutting the height of the falls in half.

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That's the question so many people ask when they take the Niagara City Cruise to the base of the falls. The building is the abandoned Ontario Power Company's generating station built in 1905.

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From the original falls going over the Niagara Escarpment, the water began to wear its way back up the river. The path that it left is known today as the Niagara Gorge (a deeply-cut and very scenic river path). Currently, Niagara Falls wears its way back another approximately 1 foot/year.

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When the American Falls was temporarily diverted in 1969, two bodies were found; the identities were not disclosed. There have been no recorded cases of people surviving the trip over the American Falls.

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— Fifty years ago, Roger Woodward earned bragging rights as one of the few people to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls. Not that he ever used them. For sure, the 7-year-old miracle boy who tumbled over the brink after a boating accident is part of the colorful folklore of the Falls.

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10 Quintessentially Canadian Foods to Try in Niagara Falls
  • Maple Syrup. Of course, one of the most Canadian foods to try has to be anything maple-syrup flavored. ...
  • Poutine. ...
  • Butter Tart. ...
  • Nanaimo Bar. ...
  • Beavertail. ...
  • Game Meat. ...
  • Ketchup Chips. ...
  • Bannock.


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Fish bodies are streamlined and relatively light so a long fall into water isn't usually a problem. Niagara River expert, Wes Hill, estimates that 90 per cent of fish survive the drop over Niagara Falls. But a waterfall that cascades over rocks, such as Yosemite Falls, will be fatal to all but the smallest fish.

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Under an international treaty, the flow of water over Niagara Falls is reduced during the night to allow more of the water to flow into intakes used for power generation. This plan ensures that the Falls' natural beauty remains unaffected during prime viewing hours.

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Angel Falls, Venezuela Beginning with the one that is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall, at the height of 3,200 feet, Angel Falls is the largest waterfall in the world.

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The Niagara River is a river that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the river's name.



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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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Now, let's get back to our main question, and explore whether Niagara Falls is a wonder of the world. The answer, again, is a No! Niagara Falls doesn't even find a mention in the unofficial list of seven wonders of the world, let alone the official one [if there would be any].

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Preferred Region. The majesty that is Niagara Falls has had its, well, less majestic moments over the past two centuries. In fact, twice the falls have dried up completely – once stopped by nature and the second time 120 years later, it was stopped by man.

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