INFO VINE * Researchers Drain Niagara Falls, Only To Discover Something Truly Alarming *

The Niagara Falls act as a magnificent border between the United States and Canada. They are considered one of the most well-known and breathtaking landmarks in North America. For nearly 200 years now, tourists from all over come to see this natural wonder as the power of the water is on display for everyone. 


There have been an infinite number of photos taken of the Falls, as well as many who have tried to get too close. But, in 1969, the Niagara Falls revealed a sinister secret that had been lying at the bottom of its bedrock for many years. 

Dry Falls

In 1969, the waters that pounded through the Niagara Falls were stopped before they could get to the area, allowing the bedrock to be exposed and the water to be no more than a little stream. 






Seeing the Falls like this, for the first time in history, allowed researchers to see a part of this landscape that had been permanently hidden by water. What was found at the bottom of the dried out Falls brought visitors and researchers alike to their knees. Some things were never meant to be found. 

Dwindling Water 

Locals who lived on the New York side of the Niagara Falls in 1964, noticed that the water level was lowering. The Falls, which normally hold a roar of powerful water coming through, was becoming less and less with time.






Locals were confused and worried about the situation as they had never seen anything like it. They knew that the Niagara Falls were a wonder. While they didn't know why it was happening, they knew that the reason for it could not be good news. 

The US Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are made up of three waterfalls who share a cliff and are therefore combined. One of the three falls is named the American Falls. This specific waterfall, while it has an innocent name, is known for being the most self-destructive one of the three.






The water that was going over was eroding it over time. As the rocks that erode with time loosen, they fall to the rockbed of the falls and pile up; this is referred to as talus. The talus of the American Falls was nearly half the height of the waterfalls cliff. 

Cause For Concern

The reason this was such a concern is because for a talus to be that high it means a lot of erosion was taking place. A talus that size can disrupt the normal water flow of the Falls as well. 






The locals on the New York side of the Falls were growing more concerned as the talus kept on growing and while the disruption of water was one reason to worry, they were also concerned that it would hurt the look of the typically incredible view of the US side of the Falls.

Growing Worry Regarding Tourism

The locals were worried that if the Falls lose their charm, less tourists would come to see the magnificent Falls. If less people came, then the tourism industry in the area would suffer greatly, and many of the locals were dependent on it.






As a result of this issue, the local community came together to try and make a plan and find a solution to this issue. Together, they launched a project to maintain the Falls and therefore their livelihood. 

Canadian and American Teamwork 

The locals took their concerns to higher authorities who decided to help. The American and Canadian governments decided to team up on this issue and try to find a solution. As part of their planning, they reached out to the International Joint Commission, as well as the United States Army Corps of Engineers.






They worked out a plan to save the Falls from destruction, but it would take a lot of resources and would be far from simple. The endeavor was proposed, discussed, and finally approved. 

Launching the Plan 

In June 1969, the plan was put into motion. The first course of action was to stop the flow of water to the Falls altogether. The water needed to be stopped first, before the true work could start. As long as there was water, the talus couldn't be inspected.






The plan for the Falls had it so 280,000 cubic yards of rock be taken from the talus. Once the rock was taken, the Falls' water could flow normally again. 

Building A Cofferdam

The team of engineers brought around 27,000 tons of earth and stone with them to the Falls. They did so in order to build a cofferdam. The cofferdam would be used to pump water out of the Falls so that the workers could then work in a safe, dry, and clear environment.








A cofferdam is a watertight enclosed space that is pumped of water so as to allow work to take place under a waterline, such as when fixing a ship, or the construction of a bridge. 

Getting To the Bedrock 

The construction of the cofferdam was the first order of business. Once it was in place, it pumped the water from the American Falls to its nearby Horseshoe Falls. This kept the area clear for the continued work of the engineers.






As the water dried up where the American Falls once were, the bedrock that had yet to be seen was finally peaking through. The engineers were able to see the bottom of the American Falls for the very firs time. 

An Unexpected Discovery

The engineers expected to find multiple geological properties that no one has seen in the almost 12,000 that the water has been there. They were excited to see a piece of history that predates all of us. 






However, what they did not expect to find was what else was lying on the floor of the rock. Engineers, construction workers, and the authorities were all stunned to see what the Falls revealed. The entire Fall needed to be dried out to discover this.

Unearthing Secrets

The engineers and workers were standing at the bottom of the Falls in total disbelief. In addition to the massive talus rock and the never before seen geography of the bedrock, there was a far more sinister sight.






As the water drew back and dried up so the workers could continue with the plan, they looked down and saw a bones and other remains at their feet. These were not animal remains, either, but human. Everyone at the scene was shocked, but they were also very curious. 

John Doe and Jane Doe

The remains of two individuals were found that day, a man and a woman. Due to the fact that the remains were under water for so long, it was impossible to find out who the remains belonged to. 






With this grisly discovery, rumors started going around as to who these two people could be. One of the many rumors theorized that it was a man who jumped to his death, but how the woman got there was unknown. She was not only a mystery in her identity, but how she got there was ominous as well. 

Dark History

It makes complete sense that the men that were on the site that day were horrified to see the human remains, but they were not that surprised by their find. If anything, it made them curious. 






The reason for their curiosity comes from the fact that there were only these two bodies and not more. The reason this is strange has to do with the incredibly dark history that the Falls have. 

A Baffling Statistic

As horrific as the discovery of the human remains were, the fact that there were only two was the real surprise. The reason for this is that the base of the Falls has had around 5,000 bodies found at its base from 1850 to 2011.






Authorities state that between 20 and 40 people a year end their lives right there at the Falls. This statistic is the reason why finding only two bodies in 1969 was so confusing. There should be more... 

Jumping Into the Falls

For many years, thrill-seekers have come to the Falls to attempt the unreasonably dangerous attempt at jumping into the Falls and survive to tell the tale. Since 1820, people have come from all over, with contraptions of their own making, to jump in. 






Some people built barrels and casks to protect themselves as they dive into the deadly Falls. These individuals know that this attempt may cost them their lives, and some have managed to survive this extraordinary feat. 

A Daredevil Named Annie Edson Taylor

One of these very individuals who survived her dive into the Falls in Annie Edson Taylor. She jumped into the Falls in 1901 inside this very wooden barrel. She named her barrel "Queen of the Mist," a title she had given herself.






She was reported to have said, "no one ought ever do that again." Unfortunately, while she may have succeeded and survived, her warning fell on some deaf ears, as there were many who attempted this challenge yet were not successful; hence the remains that were found. 

Make A Wish

The Falls are known for more than for tumbling into them in a feat of bravery. They are also majestic and full of wonder. When the engineers were at the bedrock, in addition to their grim discovery, they also saw that around the talus were millions upon millions of coins. 






These coins were from the huge amount of people that have frequented the Falls by 1969 and dropped in a coin to make a wish. Despite the remains and coins that had been found, the point of the mission was to get water back through the Falls. 

Final Decision

Incredibly, despite all the money and time that was spent on this project, after the talus was dried up in American Falls, the lead engineers made the final decision to leave the talus as is. The reason for this decision came as they realized that the talus was actually supporting the cliff face behind it. 






While this decision sounds ridiculous considering the incredible amount of work that went into this, the project did not happen for nothing. They found something that made it all worth it... 

American Falls Revamp

The project gave way to the possibility of giving the American Falls the revamp it needed. The team of engineers and construction workers continued on by replanning and finding a way to bring the American Falls back to its former glory.






They came up with a plan to use bolts, anchors, and cables to stabilize the Falls so that they once again could have water flowing through them undisrupted. The crew at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made it their mission to restore the Falls. 

The Project's Conclusion

The International Joint Commission, those who spearheaded this project, came to the conclusion that "man should not interfere with the natural process." While this was the conclusion they came to in 1969, the last few years had engineers talk once again about stopping the water to the Falls.






This time it would be for the purpose of restoring the bridges. Experts have stated that drying up the Falls again can give us a better look at an important part of history. 

Detroit Lake

That very thing happened approximately 100 miles outside of Portland, Oregon, where a reservoir called Detroit Lake was created as a result of the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River. That area is a rural and green thanks to the wet conditions in the region.






Detroit Lake is the water source for the city of Salem. Every autumn, the lake is a source of great interest as it has a tendency to dry up and reveal much more of its bottom. 

Drying Lake

Detroit Lake dries up significantly towards the end of every year. As it dries up, it exposes its bedrock and all of the mysteries of the bottom. Locals and visitors come to the Marion County mountains to see this happen.






However, it is not the rocky bottom of the lake that they are interested in seeing, not exactly. Every years the lake brings with it more historical information than the year before. People come to see just that - new pieces of history. 

Perfect Conditions

Out of the bottom of the dried lake, that was still wet enough to be muddy, protruded an old wagon. The wagon was complete with huge wheels and a seat - it was in impeccable condition for the path it must have taken and the years it had been sitting there.






The reservoirs low level of oxygen created the perfect environment for this piece of history to be preserved. In addition to the wheel and seat, there was a metal plate that told more of the story. 

The Metal Plate

The metal plate that was found provided information about the wagon. The wagon was constructed in 1875 by the Milburn Wagon Company out of Toledo, Ohio. At the time, it was considered the largest wagon manufacturer in the country. 






While this may seem like a simple find, it meant a lot to the locals around the lake. There was a reason this community was so impacted by this find. It is not every day, or every year as this lake dries up, that something like this turns up.

The Entire Story

The wagon that was found at the bottom of the dried up lake brought back the memory of the interesting and culturally rich history that this area had. The history of the lake was not kept secret from anyone, but it is also not widely known and carries with it a lot of interesting twists and turns. 






Those who may not be so familiar with this area's history may ask why is the wagon so important and what is the deal with the tree stumps at the lake's base?

A Past Rediscovered

The history of this area was consumed by the hungry locals and visitors who were fascinated. They analyzed and researched the history until they found a plausibly theory that no one had looked into deep enough before to either confirm or deny. 






The theory stated that in the 1880s, pioneers with carts and wagons like what was found, departed the state of Michigan for the area. They arrived at the river and settled along its banks. It was common for people to settle by water sources. 

New Detroit

The name of the settlement was called New Detroit, which comes from the people's origin state of Michigan, Detroit being its capital city. In the 1880s, the city of Detroit held approximately 116,000 individuals. 






While that number is nothing in today's standards, back then it was considered a massive amount of people, which made Detroit a very powerful city. New Detroit was nowhere near as large as its sister city, but the settlement did expand and held around 200 people. 

Small Yet Flourishing

The settlement of New Detroit was a small one. It was located in a forested area and was brought to the area initially to be home to the many builders of the Oregon Pacific Railroad. 






While they all came for the purpose of work, the small community began to flourish on their own and expand. They built churches, stores, and cafes, as well as their own logging companies. This was an organized and thriving community of people at the time. 

Building A Dam

The settlement of New Detroit was doing very well for 70 years. However, Congress then created a plan to assist farmers and their towns that were downstream of the North Santiam River, as they were constantly fighting the flooding that took place on a regular basis, hurting their crops and production. 






The plan that Congress devised was to construct a dam to hold the water and prevent it from flooding the area again. Too much water would kill their crops and therefore hurt the industry. 

Controlling the Flooding

Congress' plan was approved and the dam was built. While the dam was constructed mostly to control the flooding, it did have other functions that would be secondary yet important. The dam was 463 feet high and was built for the purpose of irrigation and electricity. 






The people of the settlement of New Detroit knew that the dam meant that their community would be no longer. After World War II, in 1952, the Army Corps of Engineers got to the area. 

Tree Stumps

The engineers came into the area to prepare it for the dam and water. They cleared more than 3,000 acres of trees for the area that would later be the reservoir for the dam. They had no idea that 70 plus years later this part of the project was going to attract visitors from all over the country. 






The tree stumps were flooded over with water once the reservoir was filled. 70 years later, they would be revealed and be called the tree stump garden. 

Protesting Settlers

The community that was living in the settlement initially protested the construction of the dam as they knew it meant a definite change for their town, but it fell on deaf ears. While this would change the layout of their community and lifestyle, it was not the end for New Detroit. 






By the time the talks of the dam were taking place, New Detroit went from manufacturing horse drawn carriages and carts, to automobiles. They were still known as being the best in their respective field. 

Moving New Detroit

In order to keep their industry alive and a roof over their heads, the residents of New Detroit needed to move. They were sad to move as they liked their small patch of land, but they knew they had no other choice. 






So they packed their homes and moved one mile north to a higher plateau that would be safe for them. It was surely difficult for them to see their old home be overrun by water and bury everything, including the discovered wagon. 

Deputy Dave's Find

It was as a result of Deputy Dave's find of the old wagon that the history of New Detroit was brought back to light again. It had not been talked about for a very long time, despite being an important part of the areas industry. 






The wagon was found in 2015 as a result of a severe drought that the area suffered. Experts said that the wagon had not been exposed prior to this event, making it a truly unique find that awakened historical interest. 

Ancient Clue

New Detroit reminds us all that history is more complex than we will ever fully know. There are hidden pieces of history that may remain secret forever. 






However, much like Deputy Dave and his find of the well preserved wagon, a crew of archeologists got their own taste of such a lesson when they unearthed an ancient clue that brought them to a piece of history long thought to be forgotten. This is the lesson - history is waiting for us to rediscover it. 

Claims To Land

The Heiltsuk people of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest are the first nation indigenous to the area, and have stated that they were the first to be on Triquet Island when they arrived on it almost 5,000 years ago. 






However, archeologists have dismissed this claim of theirs as a result of on of their many finds in the area. They had proof that there were people there before the Heiltsuk, and they were going to share that with the world. 

Glaciers

The major evidence against the Heiltsuk's claims comes in the form of ice. Canada had a continental glacier form over it during the last Ice Age, which would have completely covered Triquet Island, making it impossible to live on. 






However, even with this piece of evidence against the Heiltsuk, a small team of archeologists wanted to look into their claim and find the indisputable truth. This way, the argument can be settled and it can be put to rest. 

Excavating

The team of archeologists started their intense excavation project on the remote island of Triquet. They were hoping to find traces of an ancient civilization. You know what they say - be careful what you wish for. 






The archeologists proceeded with their excavation work and came upon something. Not only did their discovery stun the whole of the archeological community, it also altered the history books. They never imagined that when taking this project on, that the impact would be this extensive. 

Digging and Digging

The team of archeologists dug through multiple layers of earth until they found it. They didn't know what they were looking for exactly, but when the found it they stopped immediately. After digging through the layers, they discovered the remnants of an ancient hearth. 






How was this even possible? Researchers have said that it would have been impossible for people to dig through glacial ice to get to the earth under it. Well, perhaps not everything is at it seems. 

Additional Finds

As the team of archeologists continued to dig through the earth, they found more relics, including weapons and other tools. The researchers were confused, as the Heiltsuk people also did not use these kinds of instruments in their own culture. 






This brought even more questions than it did answers for everyone involved. They went in to prove or disprove the Heiltsuk claim, but now they were faced with a possible third option that they didn't plan for. Whose artifacts were those?

Sourcing Their Food

The Heiltsuk people sourced their food from their fishing. They would smoke salmon, using a tiny and precise tool that would yield the product that they needed from the fish. But the tools that the archeologists found were a lot bigger and looked like they would be used to hunt big sea mammals, like sea lions, walruses, and seals. 






It did not make sense, this did not match up. There was more to this area than anyone had thought before and they were going to get to the bottom of it. 

Additional Finds

In addition to the tools that do not add up with the Heiltsuk people, the archeologists also found shards of obsidian, which is a glass-like rock that is only discovered in areas of the world that have experienced serious volcanic activity. 






This was getting even more confusing, as there were no volcanoes in the area. So this all begged the question - how did this rock and the people who used it get to this remote island? The answer was going to be hunted. 

Hunting For Answers

Upon these discoveries, historians put together a theory that the artifacts were left in the area by those who walked the land bridge that used to exist in the area between Alaska and Siberia during the prehistoric era. 






While that is plausible, actual proof of this needed to be found. The researchers were adamant on getting facts rather than theories and they would continue to pursue this until they got what they were after, not a moment before. 

Carbon Dating

The archeologists had a lucky strike when they went into the hearth that they found and took a deeper look. Upon inspection, they saw that the ancient hearth also contained some charcoal remains. 






What that meant was that the charcoal could be brought to a lab and carbon dated. This was the proof of just how old this hearth was. When they got the results of the carbon dating, however, they were thrown aback. Everything they had learned was forever changed. 

Results

According to the results of the carbon dating process, the charcoal pieces that they found dated back a staggering 14,000 years! This made the find the oldest carbon remains found on the continent of North America. 






This also meant that someone lived here far before the Heiltsuk people, who said that they were there for 5,000 years. The archeologists had no idea what to make of this, this changed everything they ever knew about the area. Who were these people?

Older Than A World Wonder

This find was astounding, and not just by local standards - global ones. This 14,000 year old find predates the Great Pyramid of Giza! It also predates the invention of the wheel, making it ancient indeed. 






However, while this is all so much to take in, especially for the archeologists, there was more to this incredible discovery. As if there could be something that would shock them more than this piece of historic evidence, but alas, there was, and it was remarkable. 

Timelines

The Triquet Island is, well, an island so it is surrounded by water on all sides. What that means is that the Heiltsuk people needed to get there and did so by using boats. However, boats were not thought to have been invented until many centuries after this historic find.






 The people that were on the island 14,000 years ago were not a part of the Heiltsuk people. While this was a wilding conclusion, it left it open as to who was there. 

Crossing Paths

While the Heilstuk people may have not been the first, other discoveries of tools that they did indeed use were found. They were dated 2,000 years before they initially said to have been settled on the island, dating them back 7,000 years. 






In this case, it meant that these early men had most likely met these earlier settlers on the island. What happened between the two was now the follow up question, considering the Heilstuk people are the ones who remained to this day.

The Land Bridge

The earlier Heiltsuk people who crossed the land bridge between Alaska and Siberia, probably had to fight off huge animals like woolly mammoths, mastodons, and giant sloths. These animals are obviously not a threat today as they are extinct, but they were very real back then. 






However, despite the difficult conditions and animals that could scare the greatest of predator, these people survived, and they managed to do so for one vital reason. This is what changed the course of mankind.  

Sea Level 

The Pacific Ocean has kept its sea level around Triquet Island pretty much the same for the last 15,000 years. What that means is that while the sea slowly eroded the islands surrounding the area, the terrifying animals of the Pacific Northwest and bridge were kept far away and unable to reach them. 






The ocean was the great protector of the island and of the Heiltsuk people. The people were then able to continue their traditions and thrive to this day.

Oral Tradition

One of the most incredible parts to this story that was discovered when the story of these people came to light, was that the Heiltsuk people knew their histories and were able to preserve their tale for 14,000 through the practice of oral traditions.






They shared their history with every new generation and drilled it into their being so that they may continue the tradition after them, this was their surviving power. While they know who they are, they are still being deprived of the legitimacy of their history.

Skewed View

As the story of this find reached the media, they wanted to share the news with the world. However, they focused on the discovery itself and what it would mean for the historical and scientific community, and less on what it meant for the Heilstuk people. 






Many of those who saw the media coverage, felt that the way the nation was shown did not only portray them wrongly, but in a manner that was disrespectful. In the end, this story was about them. 

Changing Focus

The skewed media coverage of this excavation upset a lot fo people, including Alisha Gauvreau, a University of Victoria student who was a part of the excavation itself. She decided that it was so unfair how the Heitsuk people were being portrayed, that she was going to change her focus directly to the Heiltsuk people. 






She felt that they needed proper representation and have someone speak to their long and rich history among the other stories about scientific finds. 

Spirited People

The Heiltsuk people laid claim to Triquet Island remains as it was. It is one of the oldest land ownership claims on the planet. It speaks to their spirited traditions as a people, but also about the strength they have as they endured so many years and are still as in touch with their traditions as they were thousands of years ago.






 They represent the whole spirit of humankind - surviving and thriving on earth as it continues to change and evolve.