Niagara Power

Note 1: Click on zoom button to enlarge maps and on photos to enlargen them.

Note 2: A complete list of maps and photos is Niagara Falls Power Maps.

Note 3: Falls Runs Dry! from Adams

Niagara Falls was considered one of the world's wonders from the time it was first discovered by Europeans to today.   However, commercially, it was considered a great obstacle to transportation between lakes Ontario and Erie for centuries.   For many years before the Erie Canal was built, a portage around the falls over the escarpment was required.   It's use for power to drive machinery and produce electricity was in the late 20th century was considered one of the technical wonders of the world.   This is the story of Niagara Power.

The position of Niagara Falls was correctly indicated on the maps of 1612 and 1632 that were printed on the authority of the French explorer, Champlain.   However, no record of its name appeared until 1656 on Sansom's map as "Ongiara".   Father Hennepin's 1683 map provides its current name, "Niagara".   This name originally applied to the entire Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.   The international boundary line of the falls, lakes, and river was established by the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 between the United States and the Great Britain.   Before 1600, the land on each side of the Niagara River, including the river islands, were possessed by the Kaw-quaws, or Neuter ("Peaceful", in French) Nation, but it became Seneca Indian territory after they destroyed the Neuters   The French took possession by right of discovery, the English by conquest, the Americans by revolution, and New York State by cession, treaty and purchase.   The Senecas ceded most of western New York, including the Falls in 1796 (Big Tree Treaty) and the islands in 1815. ^{Adams 13-19}

Niagara Falls (1) (2) (3) (4) drops 150 feet and together with the rapids above and below the falls, 214 feet are available as a water "head" (drop) to provide water (hydro) power.   The water level above the falls varies within a foot and below the falls by 5 feet throughout the year under normal conditions that prevail most of the time.   The land near the falls is very level, suitable for mill sites. ^{Adams 403}   This is the story of how that water was used to develop the world's largest hydroelectric power site.