Niagara Falls freezes during extreme weather in US
The Niagara Falls has partially frozen for the first time in more than 100 years, as a result of the 'polar vortex' which is currently sweeping across much of the US and southern Canada.
A series of photographs show that the US side of the falls, photographed yesterday from Ontario in Canada, has frozen into icicles in temperatures as low as -2F. The Daily Mail reports that, taking the wind chill into consideration, this felt like -20F - a record low for the area.
According to historical records, in 1848, icy conditions caused the falls to run dry as a result of ice jamming and damming further upriver.
Some of the waterfalls are said to have frozen over in the past: in 1936 the American Falls, which is the shallower of the tree waterfalls, is said to have frozen over completely. Photographs from 1911 or 1912 also show images the frozen falls, although some experts have questioned their authenticity.
The Independent reports that the freezing conditions have done nothing to deter visitors, who turned out to take photographs of the frozen mist and solid ice.
The Niagara Falls is expected to return to normal later this week as the polar vortex moves away and temperatures return to normal by the weekend - and then the great thaw begins.
Click on the image below to see winter weather around the world...
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