Does Niagara Falls freeze over in winter? Here’s the truth
Published on: Dec. 22, 2025, 11:10 p.m. | Source: Times of India
Come winter, without fail, you will start to read about how Niagara Falls has frozen, and it looks ethereal to say the least. Then come the photos of one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls, completely frozen over. The reality is far more intriguing. Well, let us burst the bubble – Niagara Falls never fully freezes, no matter how cold it gets. That’s because it’s just an enormous volume of water, over three million litres per second, continuously surging over the edge, generating enough movement and energy to prevent the falls from freezing solid. It just can’t freeze over. But here’s what it can do: It can look stunning! The falls may not freeze but the surroundings can, and freeze they do. The mist rising from the crashing water freezes on contact with rocks, cliffs, trees, and walkways. Ice accumulates along the edges of the falls and the Niagara River, creating the illusion of a frozen cascade. This partial freezing reshapes the entire landscape, turning Niagara Falls into one of the most spectacular winter sights in North America.
