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Niagara Falls  The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, which straddles the international border of the two countries. It is also known as the Canadian Falls. The smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie within the United States. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island, with both islands situated in New York. The larger and taller Horseshoe Falls is about 57 m (187 ft) high,[4] while the American Falls varies between 21 and 30 m (69 and 98 ft). The falls were formed approximately 12,000 years ago during the last ice age, carved by glacial meltwater flowing from the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie) into Lake Ontario. Popular attractions include boat tours like Maid of the Mist and Niagara City Cruises. Visitors can also experience the falls up close at the Cave of the Winds (US) and Journey Behind the Falls (Canada). Parks such as Niagara Falls State Park (US) and Queen Victoria Park (Canada) offer views and amenities. For panoramic views, the Skylon Tower is available on the Canadian side. A popular Niagara Falls State Park attraction for more than 150 years, the Maid of the Mist journey begins at the Observation Tower, where guests are given a souvenir rain poncho to wear and board the double-deck Maid of the Mist tour boat. From there, the boat ferries past the base of the American Falls, and onto the basin of Horseshoe Falls - the dramatic passage leading you through the roiling waterfall whitewater and massive rock formations. The Maid of the Mist returns guests to shore with newfound appreciation of the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls. Cave of the Winds: Get closer to the Falls than you ever imagined. Descend 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge and feel the water flowing off the Falls from the Hurricane Deck. It’s a rush of discovery like no other. Cave of the Winds tickets can be purchased at the Cave of the Winds on Goat Island or the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Welcome Center. From the U.S. side, American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Observation Tower. The Niagara Scenic Trolley offers guided trips along American Falls and around Goat Island. Panoramic and aerial views of the falls can also be viewed by helicopter. On the Canadian side, Queen Victoria Park features manicured gardens, platforms offering views of American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls, and underground walkways leading into observation rooms that yield the illusion of being within the falling waters. Peak visitor traffic occurs in the summertime, when Niagara Falls is both a daytime and evening attraction. From the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark (until midnight). |