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  • Niagara Falls Frozen, Brave Tourists Abound

    Niagara Falls’ frozen wonderland is attracting tourists from all over the nation and even around the world.

    People are flocking to see the spectacle of Niagara Falls’ frozen upper layers, which still allow water to flow underneath.

    In fact, traffic through the Niagara Falls visitor’s center is up 67%, according to John Percy, president & CEO of Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation.

    Niagara Falls‘ frozen wonderland is great for tourism now, but Percy thinks the ice could last longer than usual in the spring.

    “This will probably be another year where we still have ice in the river in May, ” said Percy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iuZuVqf7jE

    This might not be a big deal, except there are other events scheduled that require Niagara Falls to not be frozen, like Maid of Mist, which begins in April.

    But, in the mean time, fans of ice, snow, and winter have a great attraction to get out of the house to see when that cabin fever strikes.

    Snow still falls a lot of the time on Niagara Falls’ frozen layers, and the mist that escapes from under the ice coats the surrounding trees, benches, and railing in a sparkling crystal layer of winter goodness.

    And it looks like Niagara Falls’ frozen wonderland will be here to stay for a while for tourists to enjoy. Temperatures were at seven degrees below zero on Friday morning.

    That’s a good thing for Niagara Falls if the tourists keep rolling in to see it. Would you stand out in miserably cold conditions to see Niagara Falls frozen?

  • Niagara Falls “Frozen”, Attracts Brave Tourists

    Niagara Falls’ frozen appearance is a rare and surreal sight to behold.

    Brave tourists are flocking to both sides of Niagara Falls’ frozen cascades to see the icy wonderland created by deep layers of ice.

    However, Niagara Falls’ frozen appearance is somewhat deceiving.

    There is still plenty of water churning underneath Niagara Falls’ frozen top layers.

    Reportedly, the mist that escapes from Niagara Falls’ freezing waters immediately freezes on whatever it touches creating a sparkling wonderland that attracts lovers of all things winter and whimsical.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOFqwh2oTOc

    Nearby trees and benches are said to be coated in the frozen mists.

    The familiar roar has been muffled, but it’s still there.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iuZuVqf7jE

    Niagara Falls‘ frozen appearance is apparently worth getting out in unthinkable temperatures to see.

    In fact, temperatures have dropped recently to 13 degrees below zero, and wind chills are sometimes at 25 degrees below zero.

    But that doesn’t stop those who are desperate enough (or bored enough, or brave enough) to go out and get a glimpse of Niagara Falls frozen.

    There have been more visitors this week to Niagara Falls than normal.

    Ok, some people really love winter and snow, fires and hot chocolate, ice and sparkles. But do you really love it enough to trek through below freezing temperatures and endure windchills that make me cold just thinking about them?

    Not me. Not today.

    Would you bundle up and go see Niagara Falls frozen?

  • Niagara Falls Frozen Draws Flocks of Tourists and Adventurers

    Niagara Falls is a tourist destination any time of the year, but with record-breaking low temperatures and plenty of snow this year, Niagara Falls is an even bigger draw than normal because it is frozen and breathtakingly beatiful.

    For those who can brave the -13-degree temperatures in the region, they are treated to a winter wonderland that is only dreamed of in the minds of writers and the imaginative. The mist from the falls casts a magical coating on everything it touches and it is a sight to behold.

    The frozen wonderland is not only drawing the romantic dreamers, it is also bringing out the adventurers.

    A few weeks ago, a pair of Canadian ice climbers became the first in the world to climb their way up Niagara Falls.

    Will Gadd and Sarah Hueniken climbed up the Horseshoe section of the famous falls.

    Gadd told the ABC that the same spray that makes everything so beautiful also made from the part of the waterfall that had not frozen made the historic ice climb slippery.

    “Where I started climbing there was probably 20 or 30 feet of ice there. There was about 150 feet give or take of climbing,” he said.

    “It was difficult because that water makes mist and the mist was actually still blowing onto the ice and I was covering up my ice tools.

    “It was a little bit different, it added to the hazards for sure. It was complicated, but yeah, we figured out how to do it reasonably safely and had a great climb.”

    Gadd said the climb was difficult and safety was his greatest concern.

    “The climb was serious. It’s an upper incline, it’s not something that I would recommend to too many people in the world,” he said.

    “But it’s overhanging so the ice tends to fall off behind you and you can be relatively safe with that and I spent a fair amount of time organising the area and working with a really good safety crew with the New York State Park Police to make sure that things were going to be reasonably safe.

    “But … anything really worthwhile in life has some hazards and this to me was worth those hazards. I felt like I could do it reasonably safely and did in the end, but it’s Niagara Falls.”

  • Frozen Niagara Falls – Well, Not Really

    Frozen Niagara Falls – Well, Not Really

    With the recent frigid and record-breaking cold temps, a big part of America is frozen solid, but not Niagara Falls. Although it is partially frozen, the story circulating about the falls being frozen over is a myth. A recent webcam can testify to that.

    From that deep freeze that came from the north, commonly known as the polar vortex, or winter storm Ion, which brought record breaking temps to much of the nation keeping people in below zero cold, some for days, some for longer is what brought this myth to life. The bone-chilling storm caused all kinds of problems such as accidents, school closures, frozen pipes and worse.

    What might have been considered a frozen waterfall could have been partially correct, there are big sections of Niagara that are covered in ice, and it certainly looks as if it could be frozen, but it is deceiving.

    According to Reuters, during the recent polar vortex, “parts of the 176 foot American falls were covered in ice and the area below the conservation area was frozen over. The cold weather caused the Niagara river to form an ‘Ice Bridge,” and “large amounts of ice up river from the falls lead authorities to issue a flash flood warning for two islands in the area.”

    It definitely looks frozen over and some parts look frozen solid, we’ll give the rumor that much. But Niagara Falls, as you can see, is running, as it should be.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Niagara Falls Frozen But Not Frozen Solid

    Niagara Falls Frozen But Not Frozen Solid

    Niagara Falls is an amazing sight anytime of year but if you are able to see it on the rare occasion that it freezes, you are in for a real treat. Temperatures in the Niagara Falls area dropped as low as -2 degrees and much of the water that flows over the falls is frozen. Pictures of the falls have surfaced, showing a spectacular scene and capturing something that doesn’t happen very often.

    The falls has partially frozen before. There are several historical news stories and Niagara Falls websites that have reports and photos of the American Falls freezing in 1909, 1936 and 1949. These photos look very similar to the recent photos of the frozen falls, but even though you can’t see the water moving, it is.

    The Niagara River handles 212,000 cubic feet of water per second. Nearly 76,000 gallons of water flow over the American and Bridal Veil falls every second. Because the water flowing over the falls is so deep, powerful and fast moving, it is almost impossible for it to freeze completely. An ice bridge does form at the base of the falls in the winter and usually stays until Spring.

    (image)

    While the American Falls has frozen and nearly stopped flowing before, the larger, Horseshoe Falls has not come as close to freezing solid. An ice boom was installed on Lake Erie to help block large sheets of ice from flowing into the Niagara River, blocking the falls and allowing it to freeze.

    (image)

    Whether Niagara Falls is completely frozen over or not, the photos are still amazing to see and it could be many years before we see it this frozen again.

    (image)

    What do you think of the frozen Niagara Falls photos?

    Images via YouTube. and Wikimedia Commons.

  • Niagara Falls Plunge: Jumper in Stable Condition

    Niagara falls plunge on Tuesday has left a man in stable condition. The individual, whose name has not been released to the media, fell more than 180 feet in an apparent suicide attempt. According to Niagara Parks Police, the man climbed over the railing and jumped from Horseshoe Falls into the Niagara River. He’s one of three people who have taken the plunge without a safety device and lived to tell the tale.

    The man’s thoughtless actions forced local authorities to embark on a perilous rescue mission to save his life. After surfacing near an observation platform with serious injuries, he somehow managed to make his way to a nearby shore. It was from this location that rescuers managed to reach the man, though he could only be reached by those willing to repel down the side of the gorge.

    After nearly two hours of work from seven dedicated rescuers, the man was eventually lifted out of the area by basket. From there, he was transported to Hamilton General Hospital where he was treated for broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Although he’s still in critical condition, officials at the hospital claim that he should pull through with life and limb intact.

    Some believed the man’s actions to be part of some sort of insane stunt, though authorities seem to think otherwise. “Based on witness statements and surveillance video, it doesn’t appear in any way, shape, or form that this was anything other than a suicide attempt,” explained Niagara Parks Police Sgt. Chris Gallagher.

    Twitter reactions to this sad little story have been amusing. You can have a look at a few select responses to this unidentified man’s suicide attempt below.

    (image) Pumpyy
    @azaidi06     That awkward moment when your suicide plan fails. http://t.co/8epkZQyV
    17 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Clay Brantley
    @CrayBrantley     “@ajc: Suicidal man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls with broken ribs, collapsed lung”… Man should buy a lottery ticket!
    19 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Leo Valiquette
    @LeoValiquette     Tell me a higher power isn’t sending this dude a message: “Man in stable condition after Niagara Falls plunge” http://t.co/sJSFIhMj
    31 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) A.T.
    @twtrlssAT     “@ajc: Suicidal man survives 180-foot plunge over Niagara Falls with broken ribs, collapsed lung.” apparently it wasn’t your time buddy…
    33 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Ed OMalley
    @rustytackle     Man survives plunge over Niagara Falls, but now has to blink his eyes twice if he wants jello
    42 minutes ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto
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