Natural Wonder of the American and Horseshoe Falls has Existed for Over 12,000 Years

When considering the origin of Niagara Falls it's easy to believe that the (unofficial) seventh wonder of the world must have always existed. But the surprising truth is Niagara Falls is not that old at all.

The Horseshoe Falls (photo credit Niagara Action)

According to scholars, historians and geographers, the natural wonder of the American and Horseshoe Falls has existed for over 12,000 years, which in contrast to other landmarks across the world is fairly young. In contrast, the Giant Causeway columns in Ireland are more than 60 million years old.

The first documented reference of Niagara Falls is said to have come from an account of Samuel de Champlain - a French explorer, navigator, and cartographer - in 1604. However, it is widely believed this was not a firsthand account and instead based on stories from native residents Champlain met. The first real documentation came over 70 years later in 1678 from French explorer Louis Hennepin.