Eddy Basin

At this spot, the wide point of the river is called the Eddy Basin, where an extensive shelf of Whirlpool Sandstone can be seen at river level. Before 1921, the full flow of the Niagara River surged through this section of the gorge, and the shelf was covered by water before large diversions for hydro-electric power generation began. After 1921, both the Canadian and American sides started diverting part of the river's flow for hydro-electric power, and currently only about 25% to 50% of the river's actual flow passes over the falls and through the gorge here, leaving the river level much lower than at full flow. The cable car spanning the whirlpool was built by the Niagara Spanish Aerocar Company and made its maiden voyage across the whirlpool on August 8, 1916; it has operated trouble-free since opening day and has made thousands of trips across the swirling waters.

Niagara Falls, New York · United States