Niagara Falls Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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How long is the Niagara River?   (Back to the list of questions).

As the crow flies, the Niagara River stretches just over 26 miles (42 km) from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It is easy to just measure a straight line across like that, but the Niagara River winds back and forth and has multiple paths. If you were to sail from the inlet on Erie to the outlet on Ontario (and yes, over the falls) it would be about 31 miles (51 km), that is if you chose to sail down the west side of Grand Island. Heading down the eastern side would bring your journey to a distance of 35 miles (56.5 km).

Of course you can't sail over the falls, so the Welland Canal was completed in 1854 to make the journey between the two lakes possible. The canal, just west of the Niagara River, is just under 26 miles (42 km) long; or 25 miles (40 km) across; as the crow flies.

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What is the elevation difference between Lakes Erie and Ontario?  (Back to the list of questions).

Lake Erie is 571 ft (174 m) above sea level. Lake Ontario is 246 ft (75 m) above sea level. The Niagara River drops 325 ft as it goes from Erie to Ontario, with roughly 194 ft (59 m) of that happing at Niagara Falls.

The elevations of Lakes Erie and Ontario (cross-section).

Note the steep elevation change at Niagara Falls. Depths and distances are not drawn perfectly to scale.

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When the Niagara River splits around Grand Island, does it become two rivers? 
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The Niagara River splits in half as it passes around the massive Grand Island. Both sections are still parts of the Niagara River, but the western run is called the "Chippawa" or "Canadian" channel while the eastern run is referred to as the "American" or "Tonawanda" channel. The Chippawa channel is the more direct route and carries nearly 60% of the river's flow past Grand Island. The US/Canadian border actually runs through the Chippawa channel with more than 2/3 of the channel and Navy Island falling within Canadian territory. All of Grand Island falls within US territory.

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Where is the Niagara River deepest?  (Back to the list of questions).

The deepest spot in the Niagara River is just below the Horseshoe Falls. Here the water is roughly 170 ft (52 m) deep. The erosion from the tumbling water has gouged into the river bed, creating a depression almost as deep as the falls are tall. Under the American Falls, piles of rock debris keep the immediate area shallow.

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More FAQs on Page 11