Niagara in Winter

Niagara is renowned for its natural beauty.  During the cold winter months, ice and snow alter the landscape.  Mist from the Falls drifts and settles in surrounding parks coating trees and bridges in ice. With the right weather conditions, an ice bridge would form below the Falls when enough ice accumulated between the American and Canadian shores.    This winter wonderland would attract tourists who wanted to see the spectacle of the Falls transformed by winter.  

While beautiful, the ice and snow would also prove to be dangerous and destructive.  The solid blocks of ice were not always as stable as they appeared.  Ice in the Niagara River could wreak havoc on bridges and hydroelectric power plants.  As people became more aware of these hazards, more caution was exercised and better engineering practices developed.  

 

The base of the American Falls in winter.  The large bank of ice forming at the base of the Falls would continue to grow until it resembled a mountain.  As ice formed from the Canadian shore, an ice bridge would be created, spanning the river's width.

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