• News
  • Travel
    • Cities & Places
    • Beaches
    • Maps
    • Festivals
    • Wildlife
    • Gallery
  • Crypto
  • Health

A Massive Tunnel Has Opened Beneath Niagara Falls And People Are Excited To See It

192Shares
96.1KViews

A brand-new place of interest is now open as a massive tunnel has opened beneath Niagara Falls. Because of this, visitors are able to explore the tunnel that was built by an electricity-generating company to harness hydropower from the rapidly moving waters that make up the landmark.

Since at least the early nineteenth century, Niagara Falls has served as a magnet for tourists from all over the world, attracting notable visitors such as Mark Twain and Marilyn Monroe, amongst others. But up until this year, a massive tunnel that is buried quite a distance beneath the waterfall was off-limits to tourists.

Honeycombed with chambers carved out to harness the powerful forces of nature thundering overhead, the rocks that lie beneath the enormous triple waterfall that straddles the border between the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada are honeycombed with chambers.

The Report

And now, on the Canadian side, a 670-meter (2,198-foot) tunnel built more than a century ago has been opened up to reveal the incredible scale of these engineering marvels.

COPYRIGHT_BUG: Published on https://www.bugbog.com/a-massive-tunnel-has-opened-beneath-niagara-falls/ by Velma Battle on 2022-11-10T08:39:29.015Z

It has been included in tours of the decommissioned Niagara Parks Power Station, which began a year earlier, since July 2022. Exploring it provides an intriguing look at the pioneering work that helped bring this part of North America into the modern era.

The power station, which operated from 1905 to 2006, diverted water from the mighty Niagara River to power massive generators that electrified regional industry and helped Buffalo, a nearby Great Lakes port, earn the nickname "City of Light."

According to station tour guide Elena Zoric, the area around the waterfall was once a hub of activity for businessmen looking to profit from hydropower.

The Adams hydroelectric power plant was the first to open, operating from 1895 to 1961 on the US side. The Ontario Power Company operated in Canada from 1905 to 1999, and the Toronto Power Generating Station from 1906 to 1974.

The Architecture

The Niagara Parks station is the world's only fully intact hydroelectric plant from the time period. It was originally run by the Canadian Niagara Power Company and used Westinghouse generators to generate alternating currents patented by inventor Nikola Tesla - cutting-edge technology at the time.

According to tour guide Zoric, the plant was built at a time when aesthetics were paramount. Its rustic limestone exterior and blue roof tiles, she claims, were an attempt by New York architect Algernon S. Bell to blend in with the falls.

Visitors to the power station are shown a scale model of the massive engineering work that went into converting the pounding waters into electricity before entering the tunnel.

Zoric demonstrates where the water came in, where it ran down a shaft to power the turbines, and then where it went through a tunnel to a discharge point at the base of Horseshoe Falls, Niagara's largest cascade.

The Niagara Parks Commission's senior director of engineering and operations, Marcelo Gruosso, has been involved with the project since it was first conceived in 2017.

"The plant started out with two generators and, by 1924, all 11 were installed, which you see here today," he says as he walks through the high-ceilinged building, pointing out a line of blue, cylindrical generators that fill the space.

"Beside every generator is a 'governor' which regulated the waterflow to a turbine. An air brake in the governor helped adjust the flow. They needed 250 rpm exactly to give them 25 hertz."

Visitors descend 55 meters in a glass elevator past the six levels of infrastructure necessary for the hydropower generation process. The tunnel where the water would leave is at the bottom.

The admission fee to the power plant includes admission to the tunnel, a historic attraction that is one of a kind and almost eight meters tall and six meters wide.

It took thousands of workers four years to excavate the shale beneath the main generating room using lanterns, dynamite, pickaxes and shovels. On its way down, the water would spin the turbine blades. They were connected to a 41-meter-long shaft that went all the way back up to the main floor and spun the rotor in the alternator, generating the AC power.

- Marcelo Gruosso, Niagara Parks Commission's senior director of engineering and operations

The Experience

The air starts to rumble as the tunnel draws to a close. The path leads to a 20-meter, river-level viewing platform that is almost at the base of Horseshoe Falls, where natural light floods in. In order to be heard over the constant pounding, Gruosso must shout.

This is where the water from the tunnel poured into the river. It's the best place to see the falls.

- Marcelo Gruosso, Niagara Parks Commission's senior director of engineering and operations

The "Currents: Niagara's Power Transformed" evening show, a light and sound experience that chronicles the history of the power plant and features 3D projections of roaring water, spinning turbines, and electric sparks, complete the power plant experience.

The power station and tunnel can be visited in about two hours, but an overnight stay is advised if you want to see the evening show. The lodging options range from luxurious Fallsview hotels like the Hilton to cost-effective lodging options like the Days Inn.

In terms of dining, Niagara Falls used to be purely a hotdog and fries town. Fast food is still a thing, but restaurant has improved. Restaurants within Niagara Parks, like Table Rock House Restaurant, as well as independent eateries, like AG, which serves food from its own farm, offer chef-inspired, regionally sourced menus.

The Niagara Parkway, which follows the Niagara River and can be explored on foot or with a rented e-bike, is also noteworthy. Whirlpool Lookout Point and the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station, a massive building alongside the river that currently contributes to southern Ontario's electrical grid, are two stops along the route.

Final Words

There are many ways that visiting Niagara Falls can energize you. It is a beautiful natural setting, but it may also cause you to reevaluate the natural forces that continue to influence our contemporary lives.

Share: Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin

About The Authors

Velma Battle

Velma Battle - Travelling Expert

Recent Articles

  • Cathay Pacific Fires Flight Crew For Mocking Passengers' English

    News

    Cathay Pacific Fires Flight Crew For Mocking Passengers' English

    Cathay Pacific fires flight crew for mocking passengers' English. Cathay Pacific Airways stated that it dismissed three flight attendants after a passenger accused them of discriminating towards non-English speakers.

  • Dolphin Sightings On A UK Beach Have Been Comparable To Those In The Philippines

    News

    Dolphin Sightings On A UK Beach Have Been Comparable To Those In The Philippines

    Dolphin sightings on a UK beach have been comparable to those in the Philippines. The beautiful sandy shoreline and the presence of dolphins in the waters of a beach in the United Kingdom have earned it internet plaudits, with some comparing it to the Philippines.

  • The Philippines Will Temporarily Close Its Airspace Later This Month

    News

    The Philippines Will Temporarily Close Its Airspace Later This Month

    The Philippines will temporarily close its airspace later this month in order to address frequent airport failures. On May 17, the airspace above the whole Philippines will be closed for six hours so that failing electrical equipment may be replaced. This is an effort by the Philippines to resolve the issue.

  • Covid Virus Is No Longer A Global Health Emergency, WHO Declares

    News

    Covid Virus Is No Longer A Global Health Emergency, WHO Declares

    The World Health Organization has announced that the Covid virus is no longer a global health emergency. Following a two-year battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the global health emergency over.

  • The Highly Anticipated Coronation With Strikes, Soaring Airfares, And Yo-yoing Hotel Fees

    News

    The Highly Anticipated Coronation With Strikes, Soaring Airfares, And Yo-yoing Hotel Fees

    The highly anticipated coronation of King Charles III has drawn immense attention from around the world. As dignitaries, royalty, and curious travelers flock to witness this historic occasion, they are met with a set of unique challenges.

  • How Does Travel Affects Your Health?

    Health

    How Does Travel Affects Your Health?

    Travel affects your health by lowering your stress levels, which helps you by reducing your risk of heart disease and, as a result, has a favorable effect on your health.

  • How To Keep Your Crypto Safe While Traveling?

    Crypto

    How To Keep Your Crypto Safe While Traveling?

    Being a "fudders" or crypto user means that the only thing you can ever be sure of is that your crypto will be safe. In this type of situation, it is difficult to place your trust in someone, and protecting your cryptocurrency is entirely your responsibility, meaning, every crypto traveler needs to be wary of their currency's security. However, if you decide to visit, you will, of course, need something to ensure that your cryptocurrency is properly secured. So, how to keep your crypto safe while traveling?

  • These Stonehenge Pictures Will Make You Revisit Its History

    Gallery

    These Stonehenge Pictures Will Make You Revisit Its History

    Professor Mike Parker Pearson, a leading archaeologist, concluded after 6 years of extensive excavation of the entire plain of Stonehenge pictures that Stonehenge commemorates a royal dynasty, most likely of Welsh origin – hence the labor of dragging 80 three-ton Welsh bluestones from Preseli Hills, about 250 miles away.

  • Nile Cruises In Egypt - Tips To Make It A Cruise To Remember

    Cities & Places

    Nile Cruises In Egypt - Tips To Make It A Cruise To Remember

    If you are someone who enjoys going on cruises, then Nile cruises in Egypt need to be on your list of things to do. Nothing compares to the Nile Voyage Luxor Aswan in Egypt. It provides grandeur, experience, and stunning views all in one package. However, before you embark on your journey down the Nile Estuary, there are a few things you should know that will enhance your experience and help ensure your expedition goes off without a hitch.

  • Map Of Northern Italy - More Than Just Its Dramatic Mountain Landscapes

  • New Travel Trends Survey Finds American Travelers Eager To Explore

  • The Best Sports Events Around The World

  • Couple Take Revenge On Airbnb Host By Leaving Taps Running And Gas On For 25 Days

  • Why Travel Tech Startup Heygo Discontinued Operations One Year After Raising $20 Million