The End Of Niagara

THE END OF NIAGARA.

In Twenty-five Centuries the Great Falls Will Have Disappeared.

In 2,500 years hence the discharge of the Niagara will have become intermittent, ceasing at low stages of the lake, and finally the Niagara river, on the rising edge of the basin, will have its waters turned back and southward, and no water will flow over the Niagara escarpment of that day. Through this agency alone Niagara falls will cease to exist long before the escarpment has been worn away to the river level at Grand island, but as it is even now lessening the volume of water poured over the falls the erosive power of the stream is diminishing, and we must therefore increase the period necessary for the retreat of the Canadian falls to the south end of Goat island and the stealing of the waters of the American falls.

Assuming the continuity of the forces named, we might outline the probable future life and death of the falls thus:

With progressive loss in water volume the Canadian falls will reach the south end of Goat island in from 1,000 to 1,500 years, the death of the American falls.

The flow of the waters will now have become intermittent, and at first only at periods of mean and high water in Lake Erie, eventually at high water alone, will there be any discharge over the escarpment. This will continue for a period of from 1,500 to 2,000 years.

The entire flow to the north will cease, and the river will flow back into Lake Erie, leaving the escarpment dry at a point not very far south of Goat island and with a height of about 100 feet. This will be 3,500 years hence the death of Niagara falls.--John M. Clarke, Ph. D., LL. D., in Harper's Weekly.