With the temperature dropping and icicles practically hanging off our faces at the moment, it’s easy to complain about the weather – and January in general.
Because, let’s face it, we’re all complete wimps when it comes to cold weather – I know I am anyway – and would probably hibernate all winter if that was an acceptable solution. Is it, by the way? Asking for a friend…
But what if, for once, we actually stopped to appreciate the beauty of nature and realised that this cold snap of weather could actually provide us with some pretty mesmerising views?
Exhibit A: Niagara Falls, the new ‘eighth wonder of the world’, which has frozen over and looks absolutely mesmerising covered in snow.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Niagara Falls isn’t exactly easy to get to (unless you live near it, obvs) so how am I supposed to get these so-called incredible views?!
How about a collection of Instagram photos which show the waterfalls in all of their glory instead.
Here ya go:
What more could you want? I don’t know about you lot but if I wasn’t so completely skint I’d be packing a bag and catching the next flight over there. As it stands though, I don’t have enough in my bank to buy my lunch so…
As reported by ABC, the Niagara Falls region is expected to be coated in snow for the next few days as the area expects to see even more storms.
Freezing rain warnings were issued after sub-zero temperatures meant any rain that fell created a build up of ice and icy surfaces – so it looks like the cold snap is only going to continue.
Emma Grafham, who visited Niagara Falls on Sunday (January 20) told CNN she felt like she was in the middle of Disney’s Frozen.
She said:
There was even this set of stairs that were placed just outside the look-on spot and they had so much ice on them, it looked like Elsa had just cast her arm out and summoned up some stairs like she does in the movie.
The icy weather meant even more tourists were visiting the landmark than usual; photographers were rushing to the falls in order to get the perfect photo.
Visitors willing to brave the cold have been rewarded with incredible photos. However, despite the excitement regarding the ‘frozen falls’, it’s actually highly unlikely Niagara Falls will ever freeze over.
As reported by Traveller, much of what we know as the falls is actually manufactured, after the wonder was re-built in the 20th century – meaning the water will never fully freeze.
A structure, called the ice boom, is installed at the mouth of the Niagara River every winter; it works to reduce the amount of drifting ice entering the river and creating ice jams, while also maintaining the flow of water.
Regardless, we still get some pretty incredible views of the partially frozen falls. Now who’s going to buy me a plane ticket so I can go and see what all the fuss is about for myself.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).