Prompt Cast
The Dewatering of Niagara Falls in 1969: A Fascinating but Underwhelming Event
TLDR In 1969, Niagara Falls was dewatered to remove boulders and prevent erosion, but the event did not attract as many tourists as expected. Only two bodies and one deer carcass were found, surprising those who anticipated more discoveries. Ultimately, local residents decided to preserve Niagara Falls as a natural formation.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Niagara Falls consists of three falls, with the setup of the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side being only 500 to 800 years old.
02:40
The Army Corps of Engineers dried up Niagara Falls in 1969 by building a cofferdam, diverting the water mostly to the horseshoe falls, in order to remove the boulders underneath the American falls.
05:17
Niagara Falls was dewatered in order to prevent erosion and clean up the boulders underneath.
08:06
During the dewatering process, the face of Niagara Falls had to be continually sprayed to prevent damage from exposure to the sun and wind, the riverbed was cleaned and injected with blue dye to observe geological activity, and extensometers and monuments were installed to monitor rock movement and potential erosion.
10:34
Despite expectations, the dewatering of Niagara Falls in 1969 did not attract as many tourists as anticipated, with many people assuming it was under construction and not worth the trip, although there were still some who found it fascinating and visited.
12:56
Despite expectations, the dewatering of Niagara Falls in 1969 did not result in the discovery of many dead bodies, with only two bodies and one deer carcass being found, surprising many people who expected more.
15:34
After the dewatering, a joint commission between Canada and the US asked local residents if they should preserve Niagara Falls, and the majority agreed to leave it as a natural formation, leading to the decision to not intervene and let nature take its course.
Categories:
Society & Culture
