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When did Niagara Falls freeze completely over?

Question #16614. Asked by captorquewrench.
Last updated Jan 04 2024.

Roxanne33
Answer has 8 votes
Currently Best Answer
Roxanne33
24 year member
339 replies

Answer has 8 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Most recently, it froze in 2014
link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2536278/Spectacular-photographs-moment-Niagara-Falls-FROZE-polar-vortex-saw-record-breaking-temperatures-tourist-mecca.html

This site says 1938.
link http://www.overthefallstours.com/falls-trivia-answers.html

Another source: Before the installation of the ice-boom in 1964, the American side of the falls froze over in 1909, 1938 and 1949 because ice jams upstream reduced the water flow.
link https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/does-niagara-falls-freeze-has-niagara-falls-frozen.html

The first and only time both the American falls and the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side fell silent was on the night of March 29, 1848, when an ice jam formed on Lake Erie near Buffalo blocking the water that flows along the Niagara River and over the falls, says Dave Phillips of Environment Canada. On six reported occasions (1883, 1896, 1904, 1909, 1936 and 1947), the water flow over American Falls has been totally blocked by ice and ceased to fall. But only once has this happened to the much larger Horseshoe Falls (originally known as the Canadian Falls): March 29-31, 1848, the Days Niagara Falls Went Dry.
Source: The Weather Almanac


Response last updated by gtho4 on Jan 04 2024.
May 25 2003, 4:12 PM
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star_gazer star
Answer has 3 votes
star_gazer star
22 year member
5236 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.
Frozen solid almost never happens, there is usually a small trickle among the ice.

Yet, in 1911 it is possible that there was a major freezing.

link http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/niagarafalls.asp

Dec 23 2007, 11:45 AM
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zbeckabee star
Answer has 4 votes
zbeckabee star
Moderator
18 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
The volume of water going over the Falls, the depth and speed of the water below the Falls also precludes freezing. The water will not be stopped or frozen solid. The installation of the ice boom at the mouth of Lake Erie, the building of the International water control dam (which regulates water flow) and milder winters have all but eliminated the possibility of the American Falls ever completely freezing over in modern times.

In 1997, the ice bridge was bigger than usual because several sections of the ice boom were knocked out in early winter during a storm. The American Falls have frozen over on six occasions since the keeping of records began. Each were attributed to ice jams that have actually curtailed the flow of the American Falls to mere trickles. The American Falls water flow was reduced to such an extent in 1909, 1936, 1938 and 1949 that it froze over.

link https://www.niagarafrontier.com/faq.html


Response last updated by gtho4 on Jan 04 2024.
Dec 23 2007, 12:29 PM
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