In 1969, the seething water stream crashing down the American Falls (with two brothers - "Horseshoe" and "Veil" - it forms a complex of waterfalls, which is called Niagara), for a while shrank to a modest stream. A few years earlier, a massive landslide had occurred and piled up a pile of stones 30 meters high at the foot of the waterfall. Fearing further erosion, which threatened to finally destroy this miracle of nature, the US Army Corps of Engineers decided to drain it for a while in order to strengthen the soil faults. The American side of Niagara Falls was bare for five months.
In June, the Niagara River was launched on a new channel, passing through Canadian soil. For this, the military erected a dam of 27 thousand tons of stones. They were transported to the site in huge trucks, which took a total of 1,200 trips from the quarry and back.
While the neighboring Horseshoe Falls received an additional volume of water, experts examined the river bottom and fixed a number of faults with special bolts in order to slow down the erosion process. They also strengthened the slope and built an earthen dam.
After the waterfall was drained, two corpses were found at its foot. Just two. Considering how actively citizens at all times committed suicide here or embarked on all sorts of extravagant adventures, a whole cemetery could have accumulated there. But the water carried the bodies out of sight.
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The bare waterfall caused no less excitement among tourists than before. Especially zealous, ignoring the ban, ran out of the fences and enjoyed the feeling of jumping on the ground, which for 12 thousand years was hidden under the foaming water. At the same time, coins were collected, which in large quantities were scattered along the river bed.
The work was completed at the end of November. The dam was blown up, and the water again rushed to the ledge at a speed of 170 thousand cubic meters per minute. American media reported that 2,650 spectators watched the waterfall revive.