When Niagara Falls ran dry? .... How many remember this?

[RichieLion]

In 1969, in order to work on the cliff and the base of the cliff, the water was diverted to the Canadian side for a period of months.

I was 19 at the time and have no memory of this. Maybe the fact that I was being deployed to Viet Nam had something to do with it, but I can't believe that this is the first time I've read a story about this event, complete with never before published photos.

How many TOTV'ers know about and have a story to tell in relation to this historic time when after over 12,000 years, the water stopped?

I'm guessing those who lived closer to the falls than me have recollections.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1338793/Niagara-Falls-ran-dry-Photos-moment-iconic-waterfall-came-standstilll.html

[billethkid]

If one has ever been to the falls you can not imagine the flow being stopped or even diverted.

I found the article very interesting.

Thanx for posting it.

btk

[kfierle]

I remember when the the falls were "turned off". I only lived about 2 hours away and it was something that my entire family went to see. If I recall correctly, there were actually some steps and a platform built right next to the large rocks so you could get an up close look. I remember being about 11 years old and was just amazed at how big some of the boulders were. Definitely an experience I will never forget.

I am currently a teacher and occasionally mention this event to my students and they are shocked to hear that the water stopped flowing for several months. Once in a while a student will ask when it is going to happen again. I always tell them that it won't probably happen again in my lifetime.

[ajbrown]

Thanks for sharing. One more thing that I did not know, but do now and enjoyed reading about it.

[ceejay]

I remember it well even though I was only about 11 or 12 years old at the time.

My dad would take us to NF every year, at least twice a year. I remember him telling us that we had to see history being made. It was the most AWESOME sight I've ever seen.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World at a complete standstill, water just trickling down...absolutely amazing!

It was a memory that would last forever...thanks Daddy! :BigApplause:

[faithfulfrank]

I remember it well. I was 11 years old, and lived then and still live only about 40 miles from there. It was amazing. The Canadian side has always looked better with less debris at the bottom. Always impressive though.

I also remember going to the Falls after the H.S. Prom....and seeing tons of kids doing the same, walking around in tuxedos and prom dresses. Foreigners with cameras taking pictures all over......some of them no doubt thinking this is how rich Americans dress all the time.

Back then I worked at a service station pumping gas. We would always get folks stopping to ask directions to Niagara Falls. Sometimes I'd say, "Better hurry, the Falls turn off after 9pm", to which some folks would believe it....lol.

Frank

[pauld315]

I remember that, I was about 16 at the time. We never went to see it (lived about 4 hours from there) but I remember people who lived near there remarking that it as eerily quiet when they turned off the falls.

[redwitch]

Not sure why I remember since I was on the West Coast, but I do. I guess there was something in that resonated with the idea that man could do something like this. One thing I distinctly remember was being frustrated that no one showed a comparison of the Canadian side before and during the shutoff. I still wonder how much more turbulent the Canadian side was.

[blueash]

i remember this clearly, being a late teen and only living 20 miles away in a north suburb of Buffalo. Our family went a couple of times to see the progress. The thing that amazed me the most was the shallowness of the river bed. We locals hoped that the army corps would clean up some of the rocks at the bottom so the American falls would look better. I'm sure in retrospect that they made the right decision.

[GOJODO]

I remember it clearly as well. I was 21 traveling Canada and New England, went to see this wonder of the world and there wasn't any water! You could climb the platform easily and walk to the edge of the river where there is now a stone fence. Some people were even on the rocks.:icon_wink: