JF Ptak Science Books Post 1130
[This is a very short entry in the series on the History of Blank, Empty and Missing Things]
Perhaps one of the most difficult places in North America to collect thrown coins is at the base of Niagra Falls. This was all made possible in the summer of 1969 when the water flowing over the falls went missing. It actually was re-routed via a cofferdam which effectively turned off the falls so that engineers could clear debris and do scientific/geological work.
Nowadays there’s about 100,000 cubic feet per second that flows over the
falls, fixed at about this level for the amusement of tourists. At
night, when viewing is limited, the flow is fixed at about 50,000 cubic
feet, the water diverted to produce hydroelectric power. But in the
summer of 1969, the flow was virtually zero.
So, officially, Niagra Falls didn’t go missing–only the water did.