<P> Niagara Falls (/ naɪˈæɡrə /) is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and New York state . They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge . </P> <P> From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls . The Horseshoe Falls lies on the border of the United States and Canada with the American Falls entirely on the United States' side, separated by Goat Island . The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the United States' side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island . The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction . </P> <P> Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate . The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north - northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 75 miles (121 km) south - southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York . </P> <P> Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean . While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide . More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m) on average . </P>

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