Prolonged Freeze Turns Niagara Falls Into Dramatic Winter Scene

Niagara Falls: Extreme winter conditions have transformed parts of Niagara Falls into a rare frozen spectacle, drawing widespread attention from visitors and photographers.

Niagara Parks said heavy snowfall combined with prolonged sub-zero temperatures across southern Ontario has caused sections of the iconic waterfalls to partially freeze, producing what officials described as “dazzling” and unusual icy scenes. The intense cold has also generated a thick, frosty mist surrounding the falls.

The phenomenon occurs when surface water and airborne mist freeze on contact, merging with ice that forms as vast volumes of water continue to plunge over the falls. While the waterfalls never fully stop flowing, ice steadily accumulates around them, creating dramatic winter formations.

According to Niagara Parks, the process can result in massive ice mounds forming at the base of the falls, sometimes exceeding 40 feet in thickness, along with striking icicles lining the edges, as water continues to move beneath the frozen surface.

Officials noted that such conditions are uncommon and typically require several consecutive days of sustained freezing temperatures. A complete freeze of the falls is considered extremely rare, with the most notable instance occurring in 1848, when an ice jam on the Niagara River temporarily stopped the flow of water for around 30 hours.

Niagara Parks has advised visitors that conditions can change rapidly and urged them to dress warmly and strictly follow safety guidelines while viewing the frozen landscape.

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