6 Niagara Falls Facts You’ll Be Embarrassed You Don’t Know

How many times do we talk about being from Buffalo, New York, and not regularly going to Niagara Falls? It's almost like we take advantage of it. You have probably even said that to someone before. We were talking about Niagara Falls and how we don't visit it often, but reading some of these crazy stats about Niagara Falls might just make you want to go take a visit sooner than you thought.

If you are from Western New York, you should know these facts because the fact is, the people from out of town who want to go visit the Falls, probably already know them.

See 6 of the craziest facts about Niagara Falls, from the Niagara Falls State Park site:

• 3,160 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls every second. This accounts for 75,750 gallons of water per second over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and 681,750 gallons per second over the Horseshoe Falls.
• The water falls at 32 feet per second over the Falls, hitting the base of the Falls with 280 tons of force at the American and Bridal Veil Falls and 2,509 tons of force at the Horseshoe Falls.
• Niagara Falls is capable of producing over 4 million kilowatts of electricity, which is shared by the United States and Canada.
• Over 12,000 years ago, Niagara Falls extended seven miles down river to what is now Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario. Over the years, the brink has eroded, sometimes as much as six feet per year, to its present site.
• In November 1896, electrical power was transmitted from the Adams Power Plant in Niagara Falls, New York to Buffalo, New York. This was the first time in the world that alternating current was transmitted over a long distance.
• At one time, before Goat Island became part of Niagara Falls State Park, there were suggestions on what the island could be used for. Mr. Vanderbilt planned to use the island as a pleasure ground for people riding his trains to the falls. P.T. Barnum wanted to turn Goat Island into circus grounds!

Have you ever wondered what color Niagara Falls will be on the day you are going to visit? You can see what days will have the Falls lit up in certain colors and why on the Niagara Falls State Park website. Take a look here!