If there’s one thing we can appreciate about Ontario’s frigid winters, it’s the breathtaking frozen waterfalls. And it goes without saying that one waterfall, in particular, is in a category of its own. An annual phenomenon known as the “ice bridge” is taking place at Niagara Falls right now and it’s a sight to behold.
According to Niagara Parks, each winter when most days are below 0 C (which is every winter, in Ontario’s case), a glacier-like mass starts to form over the Falls.
This is caused by a strong southwestern wind that typically hits after a mild spell in January when broken ice flows through the Niagara River and down the Falls.
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The wet ice is then forced up out of the water and freezes into an “ice bridge,” or a giant mass that grows taller throughout the season. Niagara Parks says that in some winters, it can grow to an unbelievable height of 10 stories.
Back in the 1880s, outdoor huts were set up on the frozen surface where people could buy some refreshments and enjoy a close view of the ice bridge. But, that pastime only lasted until 1912 when three people died in a tragic incident during a mild spell.
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These photos of the ice bridge in 2018 can give you an idea of what to expect later this season.
From afar, it might look like the Falls are completely frozen over during the colder months. But, actually what you see is actually just a surface layer of frozen mist and the water is still flowing underneath.
If you want to see the ice bridge for yourself, you might want to do so before February 21st so you can catch Niagara Falls’ massive Winter Festival of Lights.
