Niue 1 Dollar Silver Coin with Swarovski Elements Crystals 2014 Niagara Falls
The magnificent waterfalls on the border between US and Canada
The magnificent waterfalls on the border between US and Canada
Waterfalls of the World
Obverse: In the foreground – the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Around the effigy – inscriptions: NIUE ISLAND (the issuer), ONE DOLLAR (the face value), ELIZABETH II and 2014 – the year of issue. Below – three SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals. In the background – a waterfall recreated in relief. Along the rim – the name of the series in Polish: WODOSPADY ŚWIATA (WATERFALLS OF THE WORLD) and the hallmark (Ag 999). In the bottom corner of the coin – the mint mark (m/w).
Reverse: On the reverse a digitally printed multicolor image of the Niagara waterfall. Along the right, upper rim – the name of the waterfall: NIAGARA. Along the left, bottom rim – the name of the two border countries of the Niagara waterfall: KANADA - USA.
Embellished with digital printing
Decorated with three Swarovski stones
Very low mintage - limited to only 2,014 pieces
Country: Niue Island.
Year: 2014.
Face Value: 1 Dollar.
Metal: Silver.
Fineness: .999.
Weight: 15.0 g ( .4823 oz of .999 Silver)
Diameter: 28.2 x 28.2 mm.
Quality: Proof.
Manufacturer: Mint of Poland.
Waterfalls of the World
Mint of Poland's brand new issue in the "The most beautiful waterfalls in the world" series.
Niagara Falls Angel Falls Vettisfossen Waterfall Dettifoss Waterfall
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.
From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie mostly on the Canadian side and the American Falls entirely on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction.
Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and flow rate. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average.
The Niagara Falls are famed both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.
The Horseshoe Falls drop about 188 feet (57 m), while the height of the American Falls varies between 70 and 100 feet (21 and 30 m) because of the presence of giant boulders at its base. The larger Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (790 m) wide, while the American Falls are 1,060 feet (320 m) wide. The distance between the American extremity of the Niagara Falls and the Canadian extremity is 3,409 feet (1,039 m).
The volume of water approaching the falls during peak flow season may sometimes be as much as 225,000 cubic feet (6,400 m3) per second. The average annual flow rate is 85,000 cubic feet (2,400 m3) per second. Since the flow is a direct function of the Lake Erie water elevation, it typically peaks in late spring or early summer. During the summer months, at least 100,000 cubic feet (2,800 m3) per second of water traverses the falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls, while the balance is diverted to hydroelectric facilities. This is accomplished by employing a weir – the International Control Dam – with movable gates upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. The falls' flow is further halved at night, and, during the low tourist season in the winter, remains a minimum of 50,000 cubic feet (1,400 m3) per second. Water diversion is regulated by the 1950 Niagara Treaty and is administered by the International Niagara Board of Control (IJC).
The verdant green colour of the water flowing over the Niagara Falls is a byproduct of the estimated 60 tonnes/minute of dissolved salts and "rock flour" (very finely ground rock) generated by the erosive force of the Niagara River itself. The current rate of erosion is approximately 1 foot (0.30 m) per year, down from a historical average of 3 feet (0.91 m) per year. It is estimated that 50,000 years from now, even at this reduced rate of erosion, the remaining 20 miles (32 km) to Lake Erie will have been undermined and the falls will cease to exist.