Unique History: The Day Niagara Falls Stopped Flowing

There are some things that everyone takes for granted. The sun will rise in the East every day, we must pay taxes and the Niagara Falls will flow for eternity. At least, that's what we thought until the amazing events of March 29, 1848. One of North America's first tourist attractions, Niagara Falls has fascinated scientists and laymen alike for centuries.

According to best estimates, the Falls are approximately 12,300 years old. While this means they have been in place for far longer than the span of recorded human history, it's just a blink of the eye in geological terms. While the Falls themselves have been running for only a relatively short time, the Niagara Escarpment-the underlying cliff formation that allows for the Falls-has been in existence for much longer. Originally, the cliff existed at what is now Lewiston, New York. Towards the end of the Ice Age, however, giant glaciers began to melt, sending torrents of water down the Niagara River. The power of this rushing water was so great that, through erosion, it wore away the Niagara Escarpment, gradually moving the Falls upriver until it reached its current resting-place. Even today, the unending deluge of water is gradually wearing away at the Escarpment. Failing some kind of powerful human intervention, it is inevitable that the Falls will continue moving upstream.

It is a virtual certainty that natives living in the region were the first to discover the Niagara Falls long before Europeans stumbled upon the continent. In fact, it is from the Iroquois that we get the name "Niagara," which is derived from the word "Onguiaahra" meaning "the strait" in their language. The first European to report on the falls was a French priest named Father Louis Hennepin. During an expedition he was amazed at the sheer size and power of the waterfalls he found. Upon returning to France, Hennepin wrote and published an account of his adventures called A New Discovery. This book brought Niagara Falls to the attention of Europeans for the first time and sparked the first wave of tourism to the famous waters.

Since its discovery, countless visitors have made their way to Niagara to view the Falls. Among these throngs have been many famous figures. The Irish poet, Thomas Moore was moved upon seeing Niagara Falls, saying "I have seen the falls, and am all rapture and amazement...felt as if approaching the residence of the Deity; the tears started into my eyes...bring the atheist here, and he cannot remain an atheist!"

It is the strong feelings evoked by the Falls, as so eloquently expressed by Moore, that makes it such a popular honeymoon spot. In 1804, Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's younger brother, reportedly took his new American bride there following their wedding. He is often credited with starting the tradition of honeymoon visits to Niagara. It is ironic that European royalty is responsible for starting what has become a popular American tradition.

In stark contrast to the feelings that drive couples to celebrate their union with a trip to Niagara are whatever impulses compel the many daredevil feats that have been attempted at the Falls. Two hotel owners-William Forsyth and John Brown-organized the first stunt as a means of increasing business. The plan was to rig up a condemned schooner named "Michigan" to look like a pirate ship, put some animals on it, send it over the falls and see which animals survived. The men printed up broadsheets, distributed widely throughout western New York and Canada, proclaiming: "The pirate Michigan with a cargo of ferocious wild animals will pass the great rapids and falls of Niagara-8^th September at 6 o'clock." Despite the "ferocious" animals turning out to be a buffalo, two small bears, two raccoons, a dog and a goose, 10,000 people came out to watch. On schedule at 6 o'clock, the Michigan was released into the Niagara River. As it reached the rapids leading up to the Falls, the hull ripped open and the boat began to fill with water. The two bears, sensing trouble, jumped ship and swam safely to land. The other animals were all either caged or tied to the deck and plummeted, with the ship, over the falls. Only the goose survived.

Sam Patch soon upped the ante when he became the first human to challenge the Niagara River. On Wednesday October 7^th, 1829, Patch successfully survived a dive into the rapids from a platform erected at a height of 85 feet. Encouraged by this endeavor, Patch tried the same feat again, this time from 130 feet on October 17^th of the same year. It is insanity what some people are willing to do for a thrill. It's no surprise that men later packed themselves into barrels to ride down the Falls.

As much as men may seek to thrill with their extraordinary acts of daring, nothing can compare with the chills mother nature is capable of providing. The best example of this occurred on March 29^th , 1848. Niagara Falls is the second largest falls on the planet, behind the magnificent Victoria Falls in Africa. One fifth of the world's supply of fresh water is located in the Great Lakes, and most of it flows over Niagara. One can imagine what a shock it was when the Falls gradually slowed to a trickle on that day. By the next morning, the Falls had entirely stopped.

It was a surreal scene and some thought it a sign that the world was nearing its end. Cooler heads prevailed, however, and the dry Niagara Gorge was soon full, not with water, but with a fascinated group of people. Walking upon a surface never before touched by human feet, many priceless artifacts of the recent past were discovered. Some found evidence of a battle fought in the area during the war of 1812 in the form of bayonets, muskets and swords. A squadron of the local U.S. calvary division took advantage of the unique situation by riding down the riverbed.

The forces of nature are fickle and extremely strong, however. Soon a low rumble could be heard upstream and a blast of water sped down the riverbed and reclaimed the Falls. As near as anyone can tell, strong winds must have broken loose large chunks of ice from Lake Erie. This ice jammed at a narrow point of the Niagara River and cut off flow to the Falls. The same strong winds, and warmer air, eventually managed to create a small crack in the temporary dam. With the mighty pressure of a stalled river fighting to get through, the ice broke free.Whatever the explanation, witnesses to this event will never forget what they saw. Mark Twain once said about Niagara Falls, "Although it was wonderful to see all that water tumbling down, it would be even more wonderful to see all that water tumbling up." But perhaps the most amazing thing of all was that the water ceased to tumble entirely.