The Niagara River flows out of the north-eastern corner of Lake Erie into a roughly south-western corner of Lake Ontario. It forms an international border between the United States and Canada. Along its course, the river travels 35 miles and loses 325 feet in elevation, approximately half of that at Niagara Falls. Since the ships of Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway would have a rather hard time at the Falls they use the Welland Canal on the Canadian side.

Despite its beauty and might the river did not avoid environmental issues. For a long time, economic factors were the sole driving forces and the industries along the river banks contributed to quite a pollution. That has been improving in recent years and the levels of bacteria and toxic substances have been decreasing.

The river is bridged by several major bridges, including the Peace Bridge, South Grand Island Bridge, North Grand Island Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, and Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. See my Bridges of Buffalo to see many of them.

Buffalo, NY, is the second largest city in New York State after New York City with a population around a quarter million.. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie right at the head of the Niagara River. Buffalo experienced a quick expansion after the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 It became a major railroad hub and a grain-milling center. The opening of St. Lawrence Seaway took the Great Lakes shipping away and steel industries moved abroad, The city has been fighting a population decline since.