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Niagara River
別名	rivière Niagara
Countries	Canada United States
Province / State	Ontario New York
流域
流向	安大略湖→聖羅倫斯河→聖羅倫斯灣
源頭	Lake Erie
• 海拔	173.43米（569英尺）
河口	Lake Ontario
• 座標	43.078°N 79.077°W / 43.078; -79.077
• 海拔	74.1米（243英尺）
流域面積	684,000 km2（264,000 sq mi）
本貌
長度	58 km（36 mi）
流量
• 平均流量	5,796 m3/s（204,700 cu ft/s）
特徵
左岸支流	Welland River
右岸支流	Tonawanda Creek
濕地公約
官方名稱	Niagara River Corridor
評定時間	3 October 2019
參考編碼	2402

Satellite image of Niagara River flowing north from Lake Erie (bottom) to Lake Ontario (top). The river flows around Grand Island, and then flows over Niagara Falls. It narrows in the Niagara Gorge, where two hydropower reservoirs are visible, and then widens after exiting the gorge. The Welland Canal is visible on the far left.

American Falls with Goat Island to its right

The Niagara River (/naɪˈæɡərə/) is a river that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the province of Ontario in Canada (on the west) and the state of New York in the United States (on the east). There are differing theories as to the origin of the river's name. According to Iroquoian scholar Bruce Trigger, Niagara is derived from the name given to a branch of the locally residing native Neutral Confederacy, who are described as being called the Niagagarega people on several late-17th-century French maps of the area. According to George R. Stewart, it comes from the name of an Iroquois town called Ongniaahra, meaning "point of land cut in two".

The river, which is occasionally described as a strait, is about 58公里（36英里） long and includes Niagara Falls in its course. The falls have moved approximately 11公里（6.8英里） upstream from the Niagara Escarpment in the last 12,000 years, resulting in a gorge below the falls. Today, the diversion of the river for electrical generation has significantly reduced the rate of erosion. The total drop in elevation along the river is 99公尺（325英尺）. The Niagara Gorge extends downstream from the Falls and includes the Niagara Whirlpool and another section of rapids.

Power plants on the river include the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations (built in 1922 and 1954) on the Canadian side, and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant (built in 1961) on the American side. Together, they generate 4.4 gigawatts of electricity. The International Control Works, built in 1954, regulates the river flow. Ships on the Great Lakes use the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, on the Canadian side of the river, to bypass Niagara Falls.

The Niagara River also features two large islands and numerous smaller islands. Grand Island and Navy Island, the two largest islands, are on the American and Canadian sides of the river, respectively. Goat Island and the tiny Luna Island split Niagara Falls into its three sections, the Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. Unity Island lies further upstream, alongside the city of Buffalo.

The Niagara River and its tributaries, Tonawanda Creek and the Welland River, formed part of the last section of the Erie Canal and Welland Canal. After leaving Lockport, New York, the Erie Canal proceeds southwest until it enters Tonawanda Creek. After entering the Niagara River, watercraft then proceed southward to the final lock, where a short section of the canal allows boats to avoid the turbulent shoal water at the river intake and enter Lake Erie. The Welland Canals used the Welland River as a connection to the Niagara River south of the falls, allowing water traffic to safely re-enter the Niagara River and proceed to Lake Erie.

History

Watercolour by Elizabeth Simcoe depicting the Niagara River from Queenston Heights, ca. 1793

Niagara River at Queenston, Ontario, then known as Queenstown, Upper Canada, c. 1805 watercolour

The Niagara River and Falls have been known outside of North America since the late 17th century, when Father Louis Hennepin, a French explorer, first witnessed them. He wrote about his travels in A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America (1698).

The Niagara River was the site of the earliest recorded railway in America. It was an inclined wooden tramway built by John Montresor (1736–1799), a British military engineer, in 1764. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the movement of goods over the Niagara Escarpment in present-day Lewiston, New York.

In 1781, the Niagara Purchase was signed, involving in a six-and-a-half kilometre-wide strip of land bordering on the west bank of the Niagara River, connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Several battles occurred along the Niagara River, which was historically defended by Fort George (Canadian side) and Fort Niagara (American side) at the mouth of the river and Fort Erie (Canadian side) at the head of the river. These forts were important during the Seven Years' War (known as the French and Indian War in the United States) and the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Queenston Heights took place near the river in the War of 1812.

The river was an important route to liberation before the American Civil War, when many African-Americans escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad crossed it to find freedom in Canada. The Freedom Crossing Monument stands on the bank of the river in Lewiston to commemorate the courage of the escaping slaves and the local volunteers who helped them secretly cross the river.

In the 1880s, the Niagara River became the first waterway in North America harnessed for large-scale generation of hydroelectricity.

On the Canadian side of the river the provincial agency Niagara Parks Commission maintains all of the shoreline property, including Fort Erie, except the sites of Fort George (a National Historic Site maintained federally by Parks Canada), as a public greenspace and environmental heritage.

On the American side, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation maintains several state parks adjacent to Niagara Falls and the Niagara River.

Today, the river is the namesake of Niagara Herald Extraordinary at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Cities and settlements

Whirlpool Aero Car crossing Niagara Whirlpool

Warning sign at Niagara Falls, Ontario

Cities and towns along the Niagara River include:

Name	Country
Buffalo	美國
Chippawa	加拿大
Fort Erie	加拿大
Lewiston	美國
Grand Island	美國
Niagara Falls	美國
Niagara Falls	加拿大
Niagara-on-the-Lake	加拿大
North Tonawanda	美國
Porter	美國
Queenston	加拿大
Tonawanda (City)	美國
Tonawanda (Town)	美國
Wheatfield	美國
Youngstown	美國

Pollution

The Niagara River is listed as a Great Lakes Areas of Concern in The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.

Crossings

主條目：List of crossings of the Niagara River

The Niagara River has a long history of both road and rail bridges spanning the river, both upstream and downstream of the Falls. This history includes numerous bridges that have fallen victim to the harsh conditions of the Niagara Gorge, such as landslides and icepacks.

Parks

Niagara Glen features many rapids downstream of Niagara Falls

The following parks are located along the Niagara River:

Name	Country
Beaver Island State Park	美國
Bowen Road Park	加拿大
Broderick Park	美國
Browns Point Park	加拿大
Buckhorn Island State Park	美國
De Veaux Woods State Park	美國
Dufferin Islands Natural Area	加拿大
Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park	美國
Falkner Park	美國
Fisherman's Park	美國
Floral Clock Park	加拿大
Fort George National Historic Site	加拿大
Fort Niagara State Park	美國
Gratwick Riverside Park	美國
Griffon Park	美國
Jayne Park	美國
Joseph Davis State Park	美國
King's Bridge Park	加拿大
MacFarland Park	加拿大
Niagara Falls State Park	美國
Niagara Glen Nature Reserve	加拿大
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens	加拿大
Niawanda Park	美國
Nike Base Park	美國
Queen's Parade Park & Memorial Park	加拿大
Queenston Heights	加拿大
Riverside Park	美國
Strawberry Island State Park	美國
Sugar Bowl Park	加拿大
Veterans Memorial Park	美國
Queen Victoria Park	加拿大
Whirlpool State Park	美國

A Niagara River Greenway Plan is in progress in the United States.

Hydrologic features

Hydrologic Features of the Niagara River

Feature	Location	Country	Notes	Photo
Source of Niagara River	42.904325°N 78.905869°W / 42.904325; -78.905869	加拿大 美國	The Niagara River originates at the north-east end of Lake Erie, and flows north to its mouth at Lake Ontario.
Black Rock Canal	42.90706°N 78.902053°W / 42.90706; -78.902053	美國	Black Rock Canal flows within and parallel to the east shore of the Niagara river near Buffalo, New York, and was built to extend the navigation period in the Niagara River through a greater part of the winter. The canal begins at Buffalo Harbor, on the north-east shore of Lake Erie, then flows north, ending at the Black Rock Lock near the north tip of Unity Island. The canal is buffered from the Niagara River by Bird Island Pier at its south end, and Unity Island at its north end.
Gould Ditch	42.920689°N 78.911785°W / 42.920689; -78.911785	加拿大	Historic tributary. Once served as a drainage ditch for Gould National Battery plant.
Scajaquada Creek	42.929091°N 78.899056°W / 42.929091; -78.899056	美國	Tributary.
Frenchman's Creek	42.942648°N 78.927391°W / 42.942648; -78.927391	加拿大	Tributary.
Chippawa Channel	42.953344°N 78.937626°W / 42.953344; -78.937626	加拿大 美國	The north-flowing Niagara River bifurcates at the south tip of Grand Island (both sections rejoin at the north tip). "Chippawa Channel" is the river passage on the west side of Grand Island.
Miller Creek	42.955315°N 78.97537°W / 42.955315; -78.97537	加拿大	Tributary.
Tonawanda Channel	42.960757°N 78.929386°W / 42.960757; -78.929386	美國	When the Niagara River bifurcates at Grand Island, the east passage—from the south tip of Grand Island, to a point just north of Tonawanda, New York—is the "Tonawanda Channel".
Baker Creek	42.972761°N 79.008039°W / 42.972761; -79.008039	加拿大	Tributary.
Black Creek	42.980999°N 79.023499°W / 42.980999; -79.023499	加拿大	Tributary.
Boyer's Creek	43.00194°N 79.029508°W / 43.00194; -79.029508	加拿大	Tributary.
Two Mile Creek	43.010845°N 78.906555°W / 43.010845; -78.906555	美國	Tributary.
Little River (at Tonawanda Island)	43.022926°N 78.884969°W / 43.022926; -78.884969	美國	Flows between Tonawanda Island and the New York mainland, within the Tonawanda Channel.
Tonawanda Creek	43.02338°N 78.881707°W / 43.02338; -78.881707	美國	Tributary.
Spicer Creek	43.025279°N 78.894153°W / 43.025279; -78.894153	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Big Sixmile Creek	43.026494°N 79.011773°W / 43.026494; -79.011773	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Little Sixmile Creek	43.028502°N 79.010217°W / 43.028502; -79.010217	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Niagara River Channel	43.035772°N 78.893809°W / 43.035772; -78.893809	美國	When the Niagara River bifurcates at Grand Island, the east passage—from a point just north of Tonawanda, New York, to the north tip of Grand Island—is the "Niagara River Channel".
Gun Creek	43.049455°N 78.915728°W / 43.049455; -78.915728	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Usshers Creek	43.051282°N 79.022577°W / 43.051282; -79.022577	加拿大	Tributary.
Burnt Ship Creek	43.060987°N 78.997493°W / 43.060987; -78.997493	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Woods Creek	43.062335°N 78.976958°W / 43.062335; -78.976958	美國	Tributary on Grand Island, New York.
Welland River	43.062711°N 79.047961°W / 43.062711; -79.047961	加拿大	Historic tributary. Became a man-made distributary—from the Niagara River to a point 5 km west—in order to supply water to an intake channel for Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Underwater intake tunnel to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations	43.067124°N 79.053959°W / 43.067124; -79.053959	加拿大
Little River (at Cayuga Island)	43.073167°N 78.951724°W / 43.073167; -78.951724	美國	Flows between Cayuga Island and the New York mainland, within the Niagara River Channel.
Cayuga Creek	43.075894°N 78.962753°W / 43.075894; -78.962753	美國	Tributary.
Underwater intake for tunnel to Niagara Power Project	43.07725°N 79.015796°W / 43.07725; -79.015796	美國
Horseshoe Falls	43.077289°N 79.075127°W / 43.077289; -79.075127	加拿大	Located between the Canadian mainland and Goat Island, New York, the Horseshoe Falls is the largest, and most south-western of three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. There is dispute as to whether the Horseshoe Falls lies entirely within Canada (see Niagara Falls#History).
Gill Creek	43.078292°N 79.025838°W / 43.078292; -79.025838	美國	Tributary.
Goat Island Channel	43.080612°N 79.060535°W / 43.080612; -79.060535	美國	The Niagara River bifurcates at the south-east tip of Goat Island. "Goat Island Channel" is the north-east passage around the island.
Bridal Veil Falls	43.083781°N 79.070776°W / 43.083781; -79.070776	美國	Located between Goat Island and Luna Island, Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest (and middle) of the three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. It is entirely within the US.
American Falls	43.084866°N 79.069462°W / 43.084866; -79.069462	美國	Located between Luna Island and the New York mainland, the American Falls is the most northern and second largest of three parallel waterfalls over-which the Niagara River flows. It is located entirely within the US.
Muddy Run Falls	43.114972°N 79.06252°W / 43.114972; -79.06252	加拿大	Historic tributary which entered the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. Development above Muddy Run Falls destroyed its water supply.
Whirlpool Rapids	43.116006°N 79.062488°W / 43.116006; -79.062488	加拿大 美國
Colt's Creek Falls	43.119757°N 79.071929°W / 43.119757; -79.071929	加拿大	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of the canal to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Niagara Whirlpool	43.120219°N 79.069526°W / 43.120219; -79.069526	加拿大 美國	The Niagara Whirlpool is a natural whirlpool along the Niagara River located along the Canada–US border between New York and Ontario. The whirlpool is located in the Niagara Gorge, downstream from Niagara Falls. The whirlpool's greatest depth is 125 feet (38 m).
Harvie Falls	43.12206°N 79.074311°W / 43.12206; -79.074311	加拿大	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of the canal to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Devil's Hole Rapids	43.133547°N 79.050901°W / 43.133547; -79.050901	加拿大 美國
Bloody Run Falls	43.134987°N 79.047275°W / 43.134987; -79.047275	美國	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following construction of Robert Moses State Parkway and other streets above the falls.
Niagara Power Project	43.142957°N 79.039807°W / 43.142957; -79.039807	美國
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations	43.147419°N 79.04406°W / 43.147419; -79.04406	加拿大
Smeaton Falls	43.156275°N 79.045998°W / 43.156275; -79.045998	加拿大	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Spring Cave Cascade	43.157348°N 79.044372°W / 43.157348; -79.044372	美國	Historic tributary which entered the Niagara River as a cascade from caves in the wall of the Niagara Gorge. Its source was destroyed following construction of the Niagara Power Project.
Fish Creek Falls	43.159018°N 79.04459°W / 43.159018; -79.04459	美國	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of the Niagara Power Project.
Locust Grove Falls	43.159183°N 79.047532°W / 43.159183; -79.047532	加拿大	Tributary which enters the Niagara River as a waterfall from the top of the Niagara Gorge. The volume was greatly diminished following the construction of Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations.
Mouth of Niagara River	43.262722°N 79.070646°W / 43.262722; -79.070646	加拿大 美國

Islands

Several islands are located on the upper river upriver from the falls:

Name	Location	Country	Status	Notes
Bird Island	Buffalo	美國	Filled in	Connected to Unity Island in 1822 as part of improvements to Black Rock harbor.
Brig Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Brother Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Located near Niagara Falls and the Three Sisters Islands; part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Buckhorn Island	Grand Island	美國	Park	Located on the north end of Grand Island. A state park.
Cayuga Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Residential	Located at the mouth of Cayuga Creek; a residential neighborhood of the city.
Cedar Island	Niagara Falls	加拿大	Filled in	Filled in by the creation of the Rankine Generating Station by Canadian Niagara Power Company in 1905.
Conners Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Filled in	Also known in some sources as "Coroner Island". Filled in sometime in the 1950s or early '60s. Currently the site of the Niagara Power Station Intake.
Deer Island	Niagara Falls	美國
Dufferin Islands	Niagara Falls	加拿大	Park	Man-made islands. Parkland.
Goat Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Located at the brink of the American Falls, named by John Stedman in the 1770s; briefly renamed to Iris Island by General Augustus Porter, a United States Commissioner (after the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow). Now part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Goose Island	City of Tonawanda	美國	Man-made/filled in	Was located at the confluence of Tonawanda Creek and the Tonawanda Channel of the Niagara River. Existed from 1825, when the Erie Canal was constructed (thereby cutting Goose Island off from the mainland) until the 1940s, when this portion of the canal was filled in.
Grand Island		美國	Developed	The largest island on the river; includes several parks, but is mostly residential and industrial; originally called Ga-We-Not (Great Island) by the Seneca.
Grass Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Filled in	Filled in during the 1960s to create the Robert Moses Parkway at Point Day.
Green Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Originally called Bath Island, it was renamed in the early 1900s for Niagara Reservation Commissioner Andrew H. Green. Part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Gull Island	Niagara Falls	加拿大	Park	Located near the wreck of the Old Scow in Canadian waters.
Hogg Island	Niagara Falls	加拿大	Filled in	Filled in by the creation of the Chippawa Queenston Power Canal in 1917 and finally by the Sir Adam Beck Dam #2 in 1950 by the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
Little Beaver Island	Grand Island	美國	Park	Located off the south end of Grand Island; part of Beaver Island State Park.
Luna Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Located next to Goat Island; originally called Prospect Island. Part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Motor Island	Grand Island	美國	Park	Also known as Pirates' Island (the name of a private club once located there) and Frog Island (not to be confused with the former Frog Island listed below). A New York State Wildlife Management Area.
Navy Island	Niagara Falls	加拿大	Park	Designated as a National Historic Park.
Rattlesnake Island	Town of Tonawanda	美國	Filled in	Was located just south of what is today the South Grand Island Bridge. Was filled in sometime between 1915 and 1927, concurrent with the heavy industrial development of the area.
Robinson Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Named for daredevil Joel Robinson in 1860. Now part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Ship Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Part of Niagara Falls State Park.
Stony Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Unknown	Shown in the 1908 New Century Atlas of Niagara and Orleans County but not mentioned in any other source. Supposedly located just offshore from the mouth of Gill Creek. No longer extant, if it ever was.
Strawberry Island	Town of Tonawanda	美國	Park	A small island, formerly much larger but diminished by gravel mining and erosion. An undeveloped state park and wildlife preserve.
Tern Island		美國	Submerged/reconstructed	Originally known as Frog Island; was located in the Upper Niagara River between Motor and Strawberry Islands; disappeared sometime between 1951 and 1985 due to erosion. Re-created as a habitat for fish, aquatic plants, and waterfowl including a nesting colony of common terns established in 2021, for whom the new island was named.
Three Sisters Islands	Niagara Falls	美國	Park	Located next to Goat Island within Niagara Falls State Park. Originally called Moss Islands, they were later renamed for the three daughters of War of 1812 United States Army General Parkhurst Whitney (Asenath, Angeline and Celinda Eliza) in 1843.
Tonawanda Island	North Tonawanda	美國	Developed	Occupied by a marina and several industries.
Tower Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Man-made	Man-made island created in 1942 and completed in 1954 by the US Army Corps of Engineers to construct International Control Dam.
Unity Island	Buffalo	美國	Developed	Home to Broderick Park, Unity Island Park, and a waste-water treatment facility.
Willow Island	Niagara Falls	美國	Man-made/filled in	Man-made island created in 1759 by Daniel Joncairs and filled in during the 1960s to create the Robert Moses Parkway.

Military posts

United States Coast Guard Fort Niagara Station was once a United States Army post. There are no Canadian Coast Guard posts along the river. Fort Mississauga, Fort George and Fort Erie are former British and Canadian military forts (last used 1953, 1965 and 1923 respectively) and are now parks.

Navy Island Royal Naval Shipyard was used by French in 18th Century as a naval base and by Royal Navy from 1763 as a small shipyard and abandoned around 1818 after the ratification of the Rush–Bagot Treaty in 1817.

Roads

On the Canadian side the Niagara Parkway travels along the River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.

18F號紐約州州道 lines the river on the state side from Fort Niagara to Lewiston. Niagara Scenic Parkway on the state side only travels along the River from the Falls to Lewiston. The remaining river sections (with some interruptions) are covered by the LaSalle Expressway, 384號紐約州州道, 266號紐約州州道 and 190號州際公路（Niagara Thruway）／New York Thruway.

See also

• List of international border rivers
• List of New York rivers
• List of Ontario rivers
• Whirlpool Aero Car

References

• Tiplin, Albert H.; Seibel, George A. and Seibel, Olive M. (1988) Our romantic Niagara: a geological history of the river and the falls Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 0-9690457-2-7

Further reading

• Hulbert, A. B. (1908). The Niagara River. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

External links

• Views of the Niagara River Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario)
• Digital Images of the Islands of the Niagara River Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario)
• Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
• Niagara Falls The Islands A History of the Niagara River Islands
• "Niagara River" from The Canadian Encyclopedia.