Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls

Horseshoe Falls is the largest and most iconic of the three waterfalls that together make up Niagara Falls, straddling the border between Canada and the United States. Also known as the Canadian Falls, this colossal curtain of water carries about 90% of the Niagara River's flow-after diversions for hydroelectric power-making it the true powerhouse of the trio, alongside the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

The Falls curve majestically between Terrapin Point on Goat Island in New York and Table Rock in Ontario, creating the familiar horseshoe shape that gives the falls its name. Though now mostly situated in Canada, Horseshoe Falls wasn’t always so neatly defined. When the US–Canada boundary was agreed upon in 1819, the northeastern edge of the falls lay in New York. Over time, a series of land alterations-including the creation of Terrapin Point in 1955 and further modifications by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1980s-have shifted the layout, shaving off around 400 feet (120 meters) from the original span of the falls.

Despite these changes, Horseshoe Falls continues to evolve, as natural erosion slowly alters its shape and potentially its international boundaries. Today, official maps show that a small portion of the falls still lies within the United States, though the overwhelming view and experience of its thunderous power is best enjoyed from the Canadian side.