What the waters of Niagara hide: how the famous waterfall was repaired

In 1969, the seething water flow that falls over the American waterfall (with two brothers — "Horseshoe" and "Veil" — it forms a complex of waterfalls, which is called Niagara), for a while shrank to a modest stream. A few years before, a massive landslide occurred and piled up a pile of stones 30 meters high at the foot of the waterfall. Fearing further erosion, which threatened to completely destroy this natural wonder, the US Army Corps of Engineers decided to drain it for a while in order to strengthen the soil faults. The American part of Niagara Falls was bared for five months.

In June, the Niagara River was launched on a new channel passing through Canadian land. To do this, the military built a dam of 27 thousand tons of stones. They were delivered to the place on hefty trucks, which in total took 1200 flights from the quarry and back. 

While the neighboring Horseshoe waterfall received an additional volume of water, experts examined the river bottom and fixed a number of faults with special bolts in order to slow down the erosion process. They also strengthened the slope and built an earthen dam.

After the waterfall was drained, two corpses were found at its foot. Just two. Considering how actively citizens at all times committed suicide here or embarked on all sorts of crazy adventures, a whole cemetery could accumulate there. But the water carried the bodies out of sight.

The naked waterfall caused no less excitement among tourists than before. Especially zealous, ignoring the ban, ran out of the fence and enjoyed the feeling of jumping on the ground, which for 12 thousand years was hidden under the foaming water. At the same time, they collected coins, which were scattered in large quantities along the riverbed.

The work was completed at the end of November. The dam was blown up, and the water rushed back to the ledge at a speed of 170 thousand cubic meters per minute. American media reported that 2,650 spectators watched the revival of the waterfall.