The Mighty Niagara Falls
The Mighty Niagara Falls: A Force of Nature
Have you ever seen a picture of Niagara Falls? It's a breathtaking sight! But have you ever wondered how these magnificent waterfalls were formed? It's a story millions of years in the making, involving ice, water, and the slow but powerful changes in the Earth itself.
The Ice Age Begins
Around 18,000 years ago, a huge ice sheet, also known as a glacier, covered much of North America, including the area where Niagara Falls is today. This ice sheet was like a giant bulldozer, grinding and scraping the land beneath it. As the climate began to warm, the ice started to melt. This melting ice created massive amounts of freshwater.
The Birth of the Niagara River
This freshwater needed somewhere to go! The water carved out a new river channel, which we now call the Niagara River. This river flowed from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The land between these two lakes wasn't flat. There was a large ridge of hard rock, called the Niagara Escarpment.
Water Meets Rock: The Falls are Born
- Glacier:
- A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land.
- Erosion:
- The process of wearing away rock or soil by water, wind, or ice.
- Escarpment:
- A long, steep slope or cliff.
- Caprock:
- A hard layer of rock overlying a softer rock.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How were the Niagara Falls formed?
- 2What is the Niagara Escarpment?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“The Mighty Niagara Falls” is a informational reading passage about Niagara Falls, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (363 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.