That Time Niagara Falls Completely Ran Dry for 30 Hours
People visiting Niagara Falls expect a constant rush of water and the accompanying noise. One morning in the 1800s, the sound stopped, and the flow nearly disappeared. The sudden change caught everyone off guard, since the falls rarely slow down. It didn’t take long for people to realize that an unusual event upstream had briefly stopped the water.
The Sudden Freeze
Image via Getty Images/Mshake
The unusual events of March 1848 began far upstream. A severe winter had left Lake Erie covered in thick ice. When temperatures rose, large sheets broke apart and drifted toward the Niagara River. Strong winds pushed those slabs into the river’s entrance, where they stacked tightly enough to form a temporary barrier. With the channel blocked, the river’s flow dropped sharply. Water levels fell until the riverbed lay exposed across areas that were normally submerged.
People quickly gathered to see the unexpected landscape. Some walked on sections of the river that were usually covered by fast-moving water, while mill operators stood by as their waterwheels came to a halt. Near the falls, only a thin stream continued over the edge. Contemporary accounts estimate that the stillness lasted roughly 30 hours before the ice shifted and the current resumed. When the jam finally broke, the return of the full flow made the brief period of silence even more striking.
A Different Kind Of Shutdown In 1969
More than a century later, the same waterfall shut down again, but for a different reason. Concerns about the American Falls had been growing. Rockfalls had created a massive pile of debris at the base, which changed the shape of the cascade. Engineers believed the buildup could eventually turn it into a steep slope instead of the wide curtain seen by millions. To study the problem, a bold plan began to take shape.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers built a temporary barrier that redirected the river toward Horseshoe Falls. Crews used thousands of tons of rock to create a 600-foot structure across the channel. When it held, the American Falls slowed to a trickle. For months, geologists studied the exposed rock and crews cleared unstable sections. Tourists rushed to witness the rare sight of a cliff typically buried behind constant water. Coins tossed in over the years lay in full view. By November, the temporary barrier came down. Water rushed back into place, and the familiar curtain returned.
Could It Happen Again?
Image via Wikimedia Commons/James St. John
The 1848 event sparked interest because it occurred naturally. An ice boom installed in Lake Erie during the 1960s reduces the chance of large sheets drifting into the river and forming another blockage. Even so, the region’s history shows that unusual combinations of weather and ice can still produce surprises.
A different kind of stoppage remains possible, though. Engineers have discussed another brief shutdown of the American Falls to perform maintenance on aging bridges near Goat Island. Funding and logistics shape the timeline, but the idea stays on the table. If approved, people would once again see the rock normally hidden behind gallons of water.