In an eerie discovery, engineers at Niagara Falls stumbled upon an unsettling scene when they temporarily halted the water flow at this renowned landmark.
For those who have had the chance to see Niagara Falls up close, or even through photographs or on television, it’s evident how powerful it truly is.
As detailed by the Niagara Falls State Park website, the falls see a staggering 3,160 tons of water cascading every second, at a speed of 32 feet per second.
This natural marvel experienced human intervention in 1969, as efforts were made to redirect the water on the American side of the falls.
The Army Corps of Engineers, according to Snopes, diverted the water to the Canadian side as part of an extensive project aimed at understanding and managing erosion.
The Niagara Falls site notes: “In 1969, an earthen dam was built across the head of the American Rapids, de-watering the American Falls. For six months, geologists and engineers studied the rock face and the effects of erosion.”
But when the water ceased its flow, the engineers didn’t just find earth and stone beneath. They uncovered the remains of a man and a woman.
Following this grim discovery, The Toronto Sun reported that the woman’s decomposed body was initially found while the engineers were in search of a man who had reportedly jumped over the falls.
The man’s body was subsequently located the following day.
Even now, many years after the remains were found, there is no confirmation if the identities of the man and woman were ever established, nor is there clarity on how or when their bodies arrived at the falls.
The bodies were undeniably the most shocking find during the engineering assessment, but they weren’t the only anomalies discovered under the water.
Engineers also came across millions of coins scattered on the riverbed, likely tossed or dropped into the fast-moving waters by tourists from both the United States and Canada.
After dedicating six months to the project, engineers concluded that removing the rock at the base of the American Falls would not be cost-effective, deciding instead to let nature prevail. The water was then allowed to flow back to the American side, once more concealing the secrets below.
Today, Niagara Falls generates over 4 million kilowatts of electricity, which is distributed between the United States and Canada.