Niagara Falls, a natural wonder between Ontario (Canada) and New York (USA), was formed by glacial activity about ten thousand years ago. The history of Niagara Falls is rich, as Native Americans considered the falls a sacred place. After European exploration, the falls alternated between French and English control. The construction of hydroelectric power plants at the falls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries spurred industrialization. Today it is a symbol of natural beauty and power.