Other than being a breathtaking natural wonder, Niagara Falls is also swimming in cool history and impressive stats. Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff, or just curious, it’s time to dive into some must-know tidbits about them.
Oldest State Park
The Park where Niagara Falls resides is the oldest state park in America—some title to live up to, huh? It was established in 1885 under the name Niagara Reservation by environmental activists who bought it to protect it from being exploited for commercial purposes. Like.
But… Not That Old!
If we switch to geological talk for a minute, it turns out that Niagara Falls is actually a toddler. They were created as part of some glacial melt action taking place at the very end of the previous Ice Age, i.e., roughly 12k years ago. While that sounds like a lot, geologically speaking, it’s practically nothing.
8+ Million Visitors Per Year
Niagara Falls is truly astounding, so it may not come as a surprise that numerous visitors head up to see it every year. But more than 8 million people from different countries? Who would have guessed? Yes, this location really is that popular, folks, so get in line.
First Hydroelectric Power Plant
It turns out that Niagara Falls was the home of the first-ever hydroelectric power plant in the world! George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla were the ones who built it in 1885. Fast forward to today, and Niagara Falls can generate 4 million kilowatts of electricity.