Niagara Falls, located along the border of New York State and Ontario, Canada, is one of the world’s most famous waterfalls. But something has long been hidden beneath the cascading water: a huge tunnel carved into the rock. For more than a century, this tunnel was offlimits to visitors. Last July, it opened to the public.
The tunnel was part of the Rankine Generating Station, a power plant that opened in 1905. The station produced hydroelectric energy, using rushing water from the falls to rotate turbines and generate electricity. The water then flowed back into the Niagara River. By 2006, the station had become outdated and costly to upgrade, and was closed. The Niagara Parks Commission reopened it as a tourist site in 2021.
The tunnel is the site’s newest attraction. Visitors can follow the path the water once took by walking along the 671 meter (2,200 foot)-long passage. A viewing platform at the tunnel’s end is only about 30 m (100 ft) from the falls!