Source: Mashable

While most people know Niagara Falls for its beauty and consistent flow of rushing water, American Falls had its torrent of water slowed for several months back in 1969. American Falls is one of Niagara Falls’ three separate waterfalls and the towering rock pile at its base had become worrisome to observers.

Source: Mashable

Natural rock slides had already been taking place and the concern was that continued slides would cause the falls to completely erode. A commission of American and Canadian decided that the best course of action would be to de-water them for five months.

Source: Mashable

It took 1,200 trucks three days to dump over 28,000 tons of fill onto an upstream area of the falls, which served as a simple way to divert the waters of Niagara Falls away from American Falls and send them towards Horseshoe Falls. From there, it was time for the US Army Corps of Engineers to start their own personal investigation.

Source: Mashable

Shockingly, this team of investigators only found two corpses, which was a surprising development since a sizable number of suicides and accidents had taken place at the falls over the years. For their part, tourists enjoyed having a chance to explore the exposed rock and collect coins that had been tossed into the falls decades earlier.

Source: Mashable

Rock movements were monitored for signs of problematic behavior and hydro static pressure was relieved in certain areas with strategic drilling. It also decided that the rock pile at the base of the falls would remain in the place that nature intended for it, as moving the rocks would not achieve any legitimate scientific goal.

Source: Mashable

In November of 1969, five months after the falls were first diverted, the initial blockage was removed so that American Falls could return to its former majesty. However, these falls could soon be dry again one day soon. Two of the oldest bridges over the falls require replacement and de-watering will likely become necessary.

Source: Mashable