Niagara Falls ( French : les Chutes du Niagara ) is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River , straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York . The falls are located 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York , 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario , between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario , and Niagara Falls, New York .

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island : Horseshoe Falls , on the Canadian side of the border and American Falls on the United States side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island . 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 fall over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.