Niagara Falls sits at the center of a shared US-Canada landscape, where 1950 treaty minimums regulate the river and hydropower from Robert Moses and Sir Adam Beck helps power nearby regions. The falls formed about 12,000 years ago after the last Ice Age, carving through Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale as erosion control slowed the retreat to 0.2 feet (6 cm) per year. Here you’ll see how geology, flow, and people—from boat tours to visitor surges—fit together across the Niagara River.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant capacity 2,525 MW
- Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations produce 2,500 MW combined
- 13% of US hydropower and 10% Canada from Niagara plants
- Average flow velocity above falls is 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
- Niagara Falls formed 12,000 years ago post-Ice Age
- Falls carved through Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale layers
- First European sighting by Father Louis Hennepin in 1678
- Treaty of 1950 mandates minimum flows between US and Canada
- Daredevils have gone over falls 36 times since 1851
- Niagara River flows at 12 billion cubic meters annually over the falls
- Peak flow rate over Horseshoe Falls is 225,000 cubic feet per second (6,400 m³/s)
- Minimum flow mandated by treaty is 100,000 cubic feet per second (2,800 m³/s) daytime
- Niagara Falls drops 167 feet (51 m) at Horseshoe Falls
- The American Falls has a height of 110 feet (34 m) including the crest
- Bridal Veil Falls measures 56 feet (17 m) wide and 78 feet (24 m) high
Related reading
01 · Category
Engineering29 stats
01
Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant capacity 2,525 MW
02
Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations produce 2,500 MW combined
03
13% of US hydropower and 10% Canada from Niagara plants
04
Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant lifts water 300 feet (91 m)
05
Tunnel from forebay to powerhouses is 7.5 miles long
06
Diversion tunnels handle 90% of flow during low tourist hours
07
Rainbow Bridge spans 1,400 feet (440 m) completed 1941
08
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge 1855 first of its kind 821 ft span
09
Peace Bridge 1927 carries 4,000 vehicles daily
10
Devil's Hole Rapids engineered post-1965 rockslide
11
Hard-Hat Tours tunnel 125 feet (38 m) below Horseshoe Falls
12
1954 control structure regulates flow over American Falls
13
Annual maintenance costs for power facilities exceed $50 million
14
110 million cubic yards of rock removed for reservoirs
15
13 turbines at Robert Moses each 175 MW capacity
16
Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant capacity 2,525 MW
17
Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations produce 2,500 MW combined
18
13% of US hydropower and 10% Canada from Niagara plants
19
Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant lifts water 300 feet (91 m)
20
Tunnel from forebay to powerhouses is 7.5 miles long
21
Diversion tunnels handle 90% of flow during low tourist hours
22
Rainbow Bridge spans 1,400 feet (440 m) completed 1941
23
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge 1855 first of its kind 821 ft span
24
Peace Bridge 1927 carries 4,000 vehicles daily
25
Devil's Hole Rapids engineered post-1965 rockslide
26
Hard-Hat Tours tunnel 125 feet (38 m) below Horseshoe Falls
27
1954 control structure regulates flow over American Falls
28
Annual maintenance costs for power facilities exceed $50 million
29
110 million cubic yards of rock removed for reservoirs
Interpretation
Engineering Interpretation
Niagara’s engineering output is anchored in massive, carefully managed hydropower and water control, from 2,525 MW at the Robert Moses plant and 2,500 MW from the Sir Adam Beck stations to diversion tunnels that carry 90 percent of the flow during low tourist hours.
02 · Category
Geology22 stats
01
Average flow velocity above falls is 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
02
Niagara Falls formed 12,000 years ago post-Ice Age
03
Falls carved through Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale layers
04
Recession rate post-erosion control is 0.2 feet (6 cm) per year
05
Niagara Escarpment is 440 miles (708 km) long limestone ridge
06
Queenston Formation shale underlies the falls base
07
Fossil-rich Whirlpool Sandstone dates to Silurian period 420 million years ago
08
Talus apron at base of American Falls is 60-80 feet (18-24 m) thick
09
Falls migrated 7 miles (11 km) upstream since formation
10
Lewiston Mima mounds formed by glacial meltwater
11
Niagara Cuesta is 160 miles (260 km) from Hamilton to Kincardine
12
Average flow velocity above falls is 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
13
Niagara Falls formed 12,000 years ago post-Ice Age
14
Falls carved through Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale layers
15
Recession rate post-erosion control is 0.2 feet (6 cm) per year
16
Niagara Escarpment is 440 miles (708 km) long limestone ridge
17
Queenston Formation shale underlies the falls base
18
Fossil-rich Whirlpool Sandstone dates to Silurian period 420 million years ago
19
Talus apron at base of American Falls is 60-80 feet (18-24 m) thick
20
Falls migrated 7 miles (11 km) upstream since formation
21
Lewiston Mima mounds formed by glacial meltwater
22
Niagara Cuesta is 160 miles (260 km) from Hamilton to Kincardine
Interpretation
Geology Interpretation
From a geology perspective, Niagara Falls has been actively reshaping the Lockport Dolomite and Rochester Shale for about 12,000 years, and even with erosion control in place it still recedes at roughly 0.2 feet or 6 cm per year.
03 · Category
History20 stats
01
First European sighting by Father Louis Hennepin in 1678
02
Treaty of 1950 mandates minimum flows between US and Canada
03
Daredevils have gone over falls 36 times since 1851
04
Honeymoon Bridge collapsed in 1938 due to ice jam
05
War of 1812 Battle of Queenston Heights overlooks falls
06
First power plant Terrapin Point 1881 by Canadian Niagara
07
Blondin crossed falls on tightrope 7 times in 1859
08
Niagara Reservation established 1885 as first US state park
09
Queen Victoria Park created 1880 by Sir Casimir Gzowski
10
1969 dewatering exposed American Falls for 6 months
11
First European sighting by Father Louis Hennepin in 1678
12
Treaty of 1950 mandates minimum flows between US and Canada
13
Daredevils have gone over falls 36 times since 1851
14
Honeymoon Bridge collapsed in 1938 due to ice jam
15
War of 1812 Battle of Queenston Heights overlooks falls
16
First power plant Terrapin Point 1881 by Canadian Niagara
17
Blondin crossed falls on tightrope 7 times in 1859
18
Niagara Reservation established 1885 as first US state park
19
Queen Victoria Park created 1880 by Sir Casimir Gzowski
20
1969 dewatering exposed American Falls for 6 months
Interpretation
History Interpretation
Niagara Falls’ history is a long arc of changing human use and shared governance, from Father Louis Hennepin’s 1678 European sighting to the Treaty of 1950’s required flows, alongside the enduring daredevil legacy of 36 descents since 1851.
04 · Category
Hydrology20 stats
01
Niagara River flows at 12 billion cubic meters annually over the falls
02
Peak flow rate over Horseshoe Falls is 225,000 cubic feet per second (6,400 m³/s)
03
Minimum flow mandated by treaty is 100,000 cubic feet per second (2,800 m³/s) daytime
04
Annual average discharge is 185,000 cubic feet per second (5,200 m³/s)
05
During high flow, up to 757,000 US gallons per second plunge over Horseshoe Falls
06
Niagara River contributes 20% of Lake Erie's water outflow
07
Flow diversion reduces falls flow by 50-75% at night
08
Average annual precipitation feeding the falls is 40 inches (1,016 mm)
09
Ice bridge forms when flow reduces to 15% capacity in winter
10
Upper Niagara River width averages 2.5 miles (4 km)
11
Niagara River flows at 12 billion cubic meters annually over the falls
12
Peak flow rate over Horseshoe Falls is 225,000 cubic feet per second (6,400 m³/s)
13
Minimum flow mandated by treaty is 100,000 cubic feet per second (2,800 m³/s) daytime
14
Annual average discharge is 185,000 cubic feet per second (5,200 m³/s)
15
During high flow, up to 757,000 US gallons per second plunge over Horseshoe Falls
16
Niagara River contributes 20% of Lake Erie's water outflow
17
Flow diversion reduces falls flow by 50-75% at night
18
Average annual precipitation feeding the falls is 40 inches (1,016 mm)
19
Ice bridge forms when flow reduces to 15% capacity in winter
20
Upper Niagara River width averages 2.5 miles (4 km)
05 · Category
Physical Dimensions20 stats
01
Niagara Falls drops 167 feet (51 m) at Horseshoe Falls
02
The American Falls has a height of 110 feet (34 m) including the crest
03
Bridal Veil Falls measures 56 feet (17 m) wide and 78 feet (24 m) high
04
Total width of all three falls combined is approximately 3,810 feet (1,160 m)
05
Horseshoe Falls has a vertical drop of 173 feet (53 m) from rim to pool
06
American Falls crest is 1,060 feet (320 m) wide
07
Average depth of the Niagara River above the falls is 20-30 feet (6-9 m)
08
The falls recede upstream at a rate of about 1 foot per year historically
09
Total height from top to bottom at Horseshoe Falls is 184 feet (56 m) including talus
10
Bridal Veil Falls height is 181 feet (55 m) total plunge
11
Niagara Falls drops 167 feet (51 m) at Horseshoe Falls
12
The American Falls has a height of 110 feet (34 m) including the crest
13
Bridal Veil Falls measures 56 feet (17 m) wide and 78 feet (24 m) high
14
Total width of all three falls combined is approximately 3,810 feet (1,160 m)
15
Horseshoe Falls has a vertical drop of 173 feet (53 m) from rim to pool
16
American Falls crest is 1,060 feet (320 m) wide
17
Average depth of the Niagara River above the falls is 20-30 feet (6-9 m)
18
The falls recede upstream at a rate of about 1 foot per year historically
19
Total height from top to bottom at Horseshoe Falls is 184 feet (56 m) including talus
20
Bridal Veil Falls height is 181 feet (55 m) total plunge
Interpretation
Physical Dimensions Interpretation
From a physical dimensions perspective, Niagara Falls is defined by steep, large-scale drops with Horseshoe Falls plunging 167 to 173 feet and the total width of all three falls reaching about 3,810 feet, underscoring how its sheer size shapes the experience.
06 · Category
Tourism28 stats
01
Annual visitor numbers peaked at 14 million in 2006
02
Over 12 million visitors annually pre-COVID
03
Maid of the Mist boat tours since 1846 carry 2.5 million passengers yearly
04
Journey Behind the Falls attracts 1.3 million visitors annually
05
Niagara Falls State Park spans 221 acres (89 ha)
06
Helicopter tours over falls number 500,000 flights per year
07
Table Rock Centre welcomes 3 million visitors yearly
08
Fallsview Casino generates $1.1 billion revenue annually
09
28 million tourists visited Niagara region in 2019
10
Average stay length for tourists is 2.1 nights
11
Niagara Falls contributes $5.8 billion to Ontario economy yearly
12
1.4 million US visitors from NY state annually
13
Zipline to the Falls rides 200,000 thrill-seekers per year
14
Niagara Falls State Park entry free, no admission fee
15
Annual visitor numbers peaked at 14 million in 2006
16
Over 12 million visitors annually pre-COVID
17
Maid of the Mist boat tours since 1846 carry 2.5 million passengers yearly
18
Journey Behind the Falls attracts 1.3 million visitors annually
19
Niagara Falls State Park spans 221 acres (89 ha)
20
Helicopter tours over falls number 500,000 flights per year
21
Table Rock Centre welcomes 3 million visitors yearly
22
Fallsview Casino generates $1.1 billion revenue annually
23
28 million tourists visited Niagara region in 2019
24
Average stay length for tourists is 2.1 nights
25
Niagara Falls contributes $5.8 billion to Ontario economy yearly
26
1.4 million US visitors from NY state annually
27
Zipline to the Falls rides 200,000 thrill-seekers per year
28
Niagara Falls State Park entry free, no admission fee
Interpretation
Tourism Interpretation
Tourism at Niagara Falls remains consistently huge, with more than 12 million visitors each year before COVID and peaks reaching 14 million in 2006, while signature attractions like Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls draw about 2.5 million and 1.3 million visitors annually.
report visual · Comparison
Niagara Falls: power, flow, and visitor scale
Key generating capacity, river discharge, and tourist visitation provide a multi-angle snapshot of Niagara Falls’ scale.
Annual average discharge is 185,000 cubic feet per second (5,200 m³/s)185,000
Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant capacity 2,525 MW
2,525
28 million tourists visited Niagara region in 2019
28
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Niagara Falls Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/niagara-falls-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Niagara Falls Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/niagara-falls-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Niagara Falls Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/niagara-falls-statistics.
Sources & references
86 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level