The Ely miner., 1931-03-20

N part of its rim on the Ameri-
i u can side a few weeks ago In
q gigantic cave-in, has only
two rivals for magnitude and grand
eur. according to Theodore w. Noyes,
who has visited the outstanding water
falls of the world. The two selected
to rank with Niagara are Victoria
Falls in the Zambezi river, Africa:
and the Falls Of the Iguazu in Brazil.
In describing Niagara, Mr.. Noyes
says:
'In the interior Of the North Amer
ican continent, between Lakes Erie
and Ontario, over a precipice bisect-
ed by the United States Canadian
boundary line, falls Niagara, the
worlds most famous cataract.
"a million springs pour half the
fresh water of the world into the bas-
ins of the four great lakes which are
Niagara's sources. AS the vast inland
sea of Superior fills and overfows it's
basin, the waters descend and mingle
with those of Huron and Michigan,
and the three lakes pour the COM
bined flood of their overflow into Lake
Erie.
''The vast aggregate volumes Of the
four great lakes, seeking from their
elevated plateau sea level and their
ultimate goal the ocean, break though
a notch in the east rim of Erie's basin.
"In a comparatively narrow channel,
contracting from over two miles to one
mile in width above the falls, and to
hundred feet below, these waters de-
scend leisurely and smoothly for half
Of their 36 miles of journey to On
tario; then rush for a mile or two in
white-capped, mountainous waves of
fierce rapids; then plunge in a ma
jestic fall into a charm Of miles
contour in irregular semicircle at the
precipice edge; then, cramped within
narrow limits by precipitous banks,
they rage in whirlpool and whirlpool
rapids; and finally resume their dig
nified, unhurried pace for the rest of
the way to Lake Ontario.
shortly before the precipitous cliff
over which the Niagara hurls itself is
reached, an island (yclept Coat sep
arates the river into two channels,
about per cent of the water passing
to the right, over the so-called Amer
lean Fall Q67 feet high, in a SYM
metrical sheet about 1000 feet wide,
and the remaining "a per cent to the
left, over the Horseshoe, or so-called
Canadian. Fall (15S feet high), in
5000 feet of irregular and semicircu-
lar distorted outline. Goat island,
separating the two falls with 1900 feet
of precipice edge, completes Niagara's
mile Of contour.
How Best to See 1t.
"The best general view of both falls
of Niagara from the top-the finest,
fullest panoramic spectacle of descend
ing water in the worlds, so far as
my observation goes, enjoyed in
walk from Prospect Point, at the
northern edge of the American fall,
along the brink of the cliff to the
bridge between New York and Canada,
across the bridge, and thence south
ward along the brink of the Canadian
precipice until Horseshoe fall is
reached
'On the American side, at Prospect
Point and Hennepin Point and, best
of all, between these two points, direct
ly above the elevator to the Maid of
the Mist landing, are side views Of
both falls of unsurpassed loveliness.
''In crossing the bridge to Canada,
one stops every few feet to note the
changes Of loveliness of outline which
accompany successive changes in the
point Of view.
"From the Canadian side the Amer
lean fall at first glance seems to pre-
sent an almost continuous straight
front Of precipice edge for its full
1000 feet, but closer examination
shows that, outside of it's fine north
section next to Prospect Point, the
face Of the precipice recedes by steps
and curves, and then curves out again,
the same forces differing in degree.
but not in kind) which are making the
deep, irregular indentation at the apex
Of the Horseshoe operating here also,
though here the recession due to
erosion Is only about two inches a
year, while at the Horseshoe it is
from four to six feet year. The ef-
fectiveness Of the American fall, in
spite Of its Insignificant volume, is due
to skillful exploitation of its available
water.
Beauty of Horseshoe Fall.
Horseshoe fall is thing of beauty
as well as power. The eye delights
in the fine, irregular inner curve of
the horseshoe; in the clouds of light,
transparent spray which rise above
the fall to varying heights and in di-
verse shapes, according to climatic
conditions and the direction of the
wind; in its picturesque environment
with Goat island on one side and Ca
madam Victoria park on the other, and
in the varied shifting coloring of fall,
rapids, and spray cloud.
white and cream and lavender
show at the shallow edges on both
sides of the fall, and light green and
dark green, with white and cream
fringes and frosting. in the deep COL
umns Of descending water in the in
side Of the horseshoe. The spray
cloud displays here dense. Opaque
white, and here a transparent, trans