Thursday, March 29, 2012

Niagra Falls

You can visit Niagra Falls in Canada and America.  The falls were created by glaciation about 10,000 years ago.  I visited on the Canadian side.  Many Native Americans in the area have stories regarding the falls.   Many Americans also have stories of trying to find a way to go over the falls in a barrel or other device and survive.   Today it is used as a way to generate energy.


In 1881, under the leadership of Jacob Schoellkopf, Niagara River's first hydroelectric generating station was built. The water fell 86 feet (26 m) and generated direct current electricity, which ran the machinery of local mills and lit up some of the village streets.
During tourist season, water usage by the power plant is limited by a treaty signed by the U.S. and Canada in 1950 to preserve this natural attraction. On average the Niagara river delivers 1,500,000 U.S. gallons (5,700 m3) of water per second, half of which must flow over the falls during daylight hours from April through October. During other times the power plant may use up to three fourths of the total available water. During winter the Power Authority of New York works with Ontario Power Generation, to prevent ice on the Niagara River from interfering with power production or causing flooding of shoreline property. One of their joint efforts is an 8,800-foot (2,700 m)–long ice boom, which prevents the buildup of ice, yet allows water to continue flowing downstream.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls







By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)

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