Over the centuries, Niagara Falls has witnessed strange occurrences. In 1827, a hotel owner sent a herd of wild animals down the falls in a cargo ship, and only one goose survived. But on June 12, 1969, something even stranger happened when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stopped the falls. Scientists drained Niagara Falls to conduct research, Business Insider reported.
Niagara Falls is an impressive waterfall that connects three waterfalls at the southern end of the Niagara Gorge, bordering Ontario in Canada and New York in the United States. The three bodies of water are named, in order of size, Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. While Horseshoe Falls is on the border of two countries, the other two are within the United States. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island, both islands in New York.
According to Bright Side, Niagara Falls first formed around 12,000 years ago, after the last ice age. The falls were formed after sheets of ice covered the area of southern Ontario and moved south, forming basins of the Great Lakes along the way. They melted and released enormous amounts of water into the basins. As the ice melted, the resulting water began to flow through what are known as the Niagara River, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
In the 17th century, Niagara Falls became a popular tourist attraction. In 1842, author Charles Dickens visited the site and described the beautiful view as follows: “As I felt how near I stood to my Maker, the first and most lasting effect of that tremendous spectacle was peace.” The falls were not only a natural wonder, but also a treasure trove of natural resources.
A few years after King C. Gillette predicted that Niagara Falls could become part of a city called Metropolis, Nikola Tesla designed one of the first hydroelectric power plants near the falls. According to Smithsonian Magazine, he considered it a significant achievement in human history. Over the years, boulders had piled up at the base of the falls. In 1931, nearly 76,000 tons of rock slid down, and in 1954, 185,000 tons fell, according to Business Insider. So, not only did the boulders create an unsightly appearance, but they also posed a risk that the falls would soon turn into rapids.
In the summer of 1969, some scientists were tasked with removing and studying these boulders. Their goal was to figure out how to save the falls from erosion. To that end, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brought 27,000 tons of rock loaded onto thousands of trucks and used it to build a dam that blocked the water. This water was diverted to Horseshoe Falls, which diligently absorbed the gushing torrent, according to Bright Side.
When the waterfall was drained, researchers were surprised by what they found on its dry bottom. On the waterless bottom were piles of coins that people might have thrown into the waterfall to make a wish. In addition to coins, they also found the bodies of two people. In the weeks that followed, more than 100,000 people visited the site to see the waterfall cascading down a bare cliff. Most of them were curious about why the water was stopped and how long it would remain blocked. Meanwhile, engineers worked tirelessly for the next five months to study the boulder, and in 1974 concluded that the boulders were necessary to maintain the shape of the waterfall. The American Falls International Board issued a report opposing their removal.
On November 25, 1969, a crane arrived at the Niagara site and drilled a hole in the dam. Water began to pour through the hole in torrents. The American Falls flowed freely again. However, scientists estimated that the falls would have to be blocked again at some point to repair the surrounding bridges.