5 Niagara Falls Myths Debunked – Know Before You Go

Niagara Falls: Debunking the myths before your big visit

It’s one of the greatest sights in the world, with umpteen thousand tourists visiting Niagara Falls on an annual basis. The whole area around the attraction has been completely built up, and it’s now reached a stage where you can pretty much plan your entire vacation around it courtesy of all of the Niagara Falls hotel packages that are on offer.

Of course, the nature of Niagara Falls and the fact that it attracts so much attention means that it also attracts a lot of misconceptions. This is the reason behind today’s post, as we take a look at some of the biggest myths which surround the site.

Myth #1 – Everything is switched off at night

If you were to visit the falls during the day, and then go back in the evening, you might be under the impression that they have been completely switched off.

As it turns out, this isn’t the case. The “visible” water flow tends to drop to about 50,000 cubic ft per second, for the simple reason that the remaining half is sent over to the Niagara Power hydro-electric facilities.

So it could be argued that the evening doesn’t present quite as many exciting sights, although 50,000 cubic ft. per second is still a big deal!

Myth #2 – Niagara Falls is only open in the summer

Well, there’s absolutely no truth in this next myth – anymore, at least. Sure, if you were to wind back the clock Niagara Falls was closed at certain point in the year, but now this isn’t the case.

Instead, it’s open for the entire year. Not only that, but it’s completely suitable to visit at all times of the year. By this we mean that even though it might be cold at some points, there are plenty of indoor attractions that can keep you entertained (and ultimately, keep you warm).

Myth #3 – The falls regularly stop

Some people suggest that the falls are regularly stopped, for a whole host of reasons.

However, history dictates that they have only been stopped once, and this only lasted a few hours. Additionally, you have to wind the clock back over 150 years to 1848, which is when the incident occurred. This happened when an iceberg formed and blocked a lot of the water from passing. Ultimately, within a few hours, the problem was rectified and the water started gushing again.

Myth #4 – They freeze in winter

This is related to a couple of the myths we have taken a look at already. Some have suggested that the falls are difficult to see in the winter months, because they have the habit of freezing.

Well, let’s dispel this misconception once and for all. Sure, you might see some parts of the falls turn to ice, but in general the speed of the flowing water means that it’s just not possible for the entire attraction to freeze over. Even in the depths of winter, this isn’t going to happen.

Myth #5 – You need a passport

This myth surrounds the belief that you should visit both sides of the falls.

In truth, it doesn’t have to be like this. Some people have suggested that there is slightly more available if you look at the Canadian side, but let’s not forget that both countries offer splendid views of the falls in action.

Sure, in an ideal world you would visit both, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker. There is a Maid of the Mist on both sides and this is one of the primary reasons people visit anyway.

Myth #6 – Niagara Falls are not designed for kids

Some kids will love the falls themselves, others will find them utterly boring.

Let’s take the waterfall out of the equation for a minute and look a little further afield. The falls are surrounded by countless hotels, attractions and everything else which is designed to keep the family entertained. You could take the kids to a water park for the day, or even over to Marineland to see wildlife.

Niagara Falls is something that is now a true tourism hotspot – the falls are just the tip of the iceberg.