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History Lesson
The Day they Turned off Niagara Falls
Imagine what it would be like if you decided to spend your summer vacation in Niagara Falls and, when you got there, you found that the waterfall had been completely turned off. The whole river bed was dry and all you got to see was a rocky cliff. While this scenario might seem ridiculous-- even impossible-- that's exactly what happened in 1969. The American Falls was shut off.
It was believed that the large rocks and boulders at the base of the American Falls made the waterfall less attractive than the Horseshoe Falls. So, in 1969 the United States Army Corps of Engineers decided it would study the feasibility of removing rocks, boulders, and debris from the base of the falls.
But how could they get down there to examine the rocks? Their solution: Shut off the American Falls.
The Corps of Engineers diverted all of the water to the Horseshoe Falls temporarily. The waterfall remained dry for seven whole months while engineers and scientists climbed around the base of the waterfall. (Imagine how confused the tourists must have been!) They were trying to determine how quickly the waterfall was eroding and whether or not it was possible to move the piles of rocks from the base of the falls.
The concluded that the rocks could be removed, but the enxpense would be too great. So the flow of water was brought back and the American Falls returned to its original state.
Afterthought: It kind of reminds me of the movie National Lampoon's Vacation, in which Clark Griswold drives his family to Walley World amusement park and, when he finally arrives, the park is closed.