Just a simple question about the Niagra falls

Mark - IN. · Sep 12, 2011

I found some old movie channel that had those newsy, sciency, movietone informercials before there was informercials to to speak, and this one was about the Niagra Falls. A short clip about it, I guess because the movie that just ended before it ended with a boat that went over the Niagra Falls. But, both got me thinking. Here's a short video of water going over the falls...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS8HiWtRQ3E

Watch it? Now here's my question: See all of that water going over the falls, like a gazillion gallons a second, all day and night long for millions or billions of years, no days off? How come that river aint empty yet? Huh? Where is all of that water coming from? If I hadn't seen those two movies, I wouldn't care. But I saw the movies, and now I probably won't be able to sleep tonight wondering about that. And if I can't sleep, you can't either.

Mark
Niagra Falls

Mark - IN. · Sep 12, 2011

My problems just keep growing.

Old Roy · Sep 12, 2011

they actually shut it off at night so the erosion factor at 2" a year will last longer for future generations.

The river is being fed by the lakes not much chance of draining .

ShadetreeRet · Sep 12, 2011

It must be receding a little bit, you can see rocks sticking up above the water.

Mark - IN. · Sep 12, 2011

Well, having just watched the youtube video clip, I noticed something else. About 37 seconds into it, there's a small island of sorts, with bushes on it. That island was in the movie too, but it was much, much further back from the edge, and I think the movie was made in the 50's. Was so far back, that the lady managed to make it from the boat onto that island, then watched her husband or boyfriend and their scuttled boat get washed downstream and over huge rocks that aren't there now, and over the fall. I am never going to get any sleep with erosion added to the mix. I should have never watched those movies.

Mark

onefarmer · Sep 12, 2011

"Where is all of that water coming from?"

You know all those rivers around Mi, Wi, Mn, other states and Ontario. They flow into the Great Lakes and the Great Lake: Lake Erie drains over the falls on the way to Lake Ontario.

Where does the water come from that the rivers drain? It's call rain and snow.

They do make a lot of KWs by diverting water from the river around the falls to some power plants.

spacechem · Sep 12, 2011

Mark-
You remind me of the dozer guy we hired to clear some small brush from a pasture. One afternoon, he cut his engine, leaned back, and said, "Ya know, with all the dirt we humans move from one place to another, wouldn't ya think the earth would get outta balance?" :roll:

Old Roy · Sep 12, 2011

that Island I believe is almost going over the falls now the "Bridal Veil" is gone too

In school I remember seeing water the whole way across.
Niagra in 2010 Best listened to with headset.

Roy in UK · Sep 13, 2011

Or the lady who asked me if the water in the local lake was very deep "No" I replied "As you can see it only comes half way up those ducks". "Oh I see thanks!" she replied

Russ from MN · Sep 13, 2011

Lake Superior is huge and over 1000 ft deep for a large percentage. Rain, snow etc. keeps the water coming!

bo · Sep 13, 2011

Nope. never shut off except twice....once with a plug of ice at the mouth of the niagara river and lake erie and the other, American Falls stop with a coffer dam between mainland and Goat Island to look at the rocks.

Goose · Sep 13, 2011

Once on a dock in Kaosuing, Taiwan, I noticed a ship in port was riding high out of the water, obviously completely unloaded.

I commented to a nearby Marine Gunnery Sergeant, "The tide must be out. See how low the water line is on that ship?"

He agreed with me! I swear it didn't dawn on him that I was pulling his leg.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 13, 2011

"I commented to a nearby Marine Gunnery Sergeant, "The tide must be out. See how low the water line is on that ship?"

He agreed with me! I swear it didn't dawn on him that I was pulling his leg."

An argument with stupid is a stupid argument.

JML755 · Sep 13, 2011

What's interesting to me is that I live in SE Michigan and have property within a mile of the St. Clair River which connects Lake Michigan, Huron and Superior eventually to Niagara Falls. Now, there is a lot of the Great Lakes Basin below it, but I watch the current in the St. Clair River or even the Detroit River and it is nowhere near the spectacle of Niagara Falls. Just doesn't seem to add up, as you say.

And yes, the Falls ARE eroding, big time. Heck, take a look at the escarpment (sic?) downstream and you can see how far it's eroded up to now. I can imagine at one time it was just a trickle dribbling over the edge way downstream. Don't know if it'll ever be just a BIG rapids or if man will be able to keep the spectacle. Reminds me that I should probably take the missus there in the near future. Haven't been there in years. Nice weekend trip if you can avoid the tourist traps that are unbelievable.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 13, 2011

Mark, your just not understanding what God can do, and most likly never will understand,

First off, this water was NOT running for Millions of years, but to explain it to you would take a lot of Common Sense on your part,

you will just have to live with your problems like most others.
My Sleep is just great, and so is my understanding about what God can do.

Mike M · Sep 13, 2011

They can regulate the flow of water. Most of the water gets bypassed to run the hydro electric plant.

Ken Macfarlane · Sep 13, 2011

What do you mean where does all the water come from? Try farming here in eastern Canada, everything is wet or muddy! I'd be happy to send it over some falls!

greenbeanman in Kansas · Sep 13, 2011

Niagara is lifting the ban on stunts in order to boost tourism.

News story from July at the link.
Niagara attempts to boost tourism.

rrlund · Sep 13, 2011

I'll just tell you what they said about it on the Discovery Channel,How the Earth Was Made or something like that.
The falls are only about 10,000 years old,not billions. Just since the last ice age. And yes,they were eroding at a rate of 3 feet per year and in about 3500 years would have been all the way back to Lake Erie,then would just massively drain the Great Lakes,but a dam above the falls has controlled the erosion to about 1 foot per year.
But yes,it comes from the entire Great Lakes
Basin. Rainfall,snow melt,etc. When you consider how small of a "drain" it actually is to the entire basin,it's not going to go dry any time soon.

dlplost · Sep 13, 2011

Years ago at the Yacht Club.. The water level at the lake was high due to lots of rain, many of the larger boats couldn't get under the bridge to get out on the lake due to the water level.
One of the Ladies says "I think the State should come in and Dredge the canal so we could get under the bridge" We all agreed with Her....

JML755 · Sep 13, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:41:37 09/13/11) Years ago at the Yacht Club.. The water level at the lake was high due to lots of rain, many of the larger boats couldn't get under the bridge to get out on the lake due to the water level.
One of the Ladies says "I think the State should come in and Dredge the canal so we could get under the bridge" We all agreed with Her....

:lol: :lol:

ink spot · Sep 13, 2011

THE FALLS ARE FALLINGGGGONE AW CHUTE

farmer boy · Sep 13, 2011

The lake feeds it. Kinda hard to understand how there can be all that water in the lakes, especially on a dry year. But somehow it replinishes itself at that rate. You also have to remember that it's just a fall. It's only falling at the rate it moves towards the ocean. add to that, only 1/2 the water moves over the edge compared to 100+ years ago. 1/2 is diverted for hydro prodction. There was some show on Discovery that was saying that if there were no humans, there would obviously be no need for electricity, so the gates to the turbines would close, and instantly there would be a 13'? swell of water.

Goose · Sep 13, 2011

Elucidate, Boy. I don't see where there's an argument involved.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 13, 2011

Probably why the Arctic ice is melting? lol

Anonymous-0 · Sep 13, 2011

You spelt it the same as most people pronounce it.ni ag ra

36 Coupe · Sep 15, 2011

It rhymes with Viagra.

Just a simple question about the Niagra falls

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads