About Niagara

The Falls is approximately 12,000 years old! However, its history goes way, way back…
Five-hundred million years ago: Much of the Eastern section of North America was covered by the Taconic Mountains. Millions of years of erosion led to the formation of the present-day Appalachian, Alleghany and Catskill mountains. The silt and minerals from the Taconic Mountains formed the Falls and Niagara River.

Two-hundred million years ago: Rock strata of the Niagara Region formed to look as it does today.

Twenty million years ago: The earth’s climate began to shift, resulting in much cooler temperatures.

Two million years ago: The Niagara Region began to see the climate change that began eighteen million year before. Northern glaciers started moving south, and so formed the Great Lakes Region.

Today, the Falls and surrounding Niagara area are constantly changing, an ongoing example of the process that formed our magnificent region.

Whether winter, spring, summer or fall, the Niagara Region is a sight to behold year round.

Winter: Generally cold with snow showers. Snow is common December through March, with occasional bare lawn. The trees surrounding the Falls and Niagara River, covered with snow and decorated with icicles, make Niagara a winter wonderland.

Spring: Usually moving slowly into Niagara, spring endures its last frost is April. The trees once covered in snow begin to bloom and Niagara comes alive.

Summer: Beautiful and sunny sums up summer in Niagara! With mild humidity, the Buffalo/Niagara Region has the sunniest and driest summer of any major city in the Northeast. Perfect summer weather for all that Niagara has to offer.

Fall: Mild weather, vibrant leaves and tons to do! Summer weather into October is not uncommon, with the first frost occurring later in the month. Snow usually arrives mid-November, when Niagara has seen some of the areas most amazing snow storms.

Additional information from the National Weather Service.