AND OTHER WATER WAVES 277 



(160 feet to 190 feet), with scarcely any fall of 

 level, which succeeds them, I come to the second 

 rapids of the Niagara River, called the Whirlpool 

 Rapids, from the pool at their lower end. The fall 

 is 50 feet per mile, nearly i in 100. The width of 

 the Rapids is only about 350 feet, the depth is stated 

 to be 35 feet to 50 feet, and the reputed velocity 

 is 30 miles per hour. 1 The course of the river 

 here is curved, the apex of the curve being ap- 

 proximately at the " Whirlpool Rapids " station of 

 the Niagara Gorge Light Railway, situated on the 

 right bank. A very fine general view of these rapids 

 is obtained from the footpath of the high level rail- 

 way bridge at their upper end, and an excellent 

 view of the waves near the railway station 

 is obtained from the cliffs of the left bank opposite 

 thereto. Waves commence a little above the 

 bridge, where the gradient of the bottom increases 

 and the water begins to flow more swiftly. There 

 are two sets of waves originating from the right 

 and left bank respectively. The first few waves 

 are smoothly rounded in form and practically 

 steady in position. Lower down, where sets of 

 waves originating from the opposite banks extend 

 sufficiently far out to meet each other, they are 



1 G. K. Gilbert : u Explanation of United States Geological 

 Survey Map of Niagara River." 



