Niagara Falls (Almost) Freezes Over As Temperatures Plummet

The winter's deep freeze has transformed Niagara Falls into an icy spectacle, encasing the trees around it into crystal shells and drawing tourists who are braving below-zero temperatures.

The Niagara River keeps flowing below the ice cover, so the falls aren't completely frozen over. But the massive ice buildup near the brink has become a tourist magnet for the second straight year after several relatively mild winters.

NASA satellites also managed to capture the extent of the freeze from above showing an entire snow-covered northeastern state.

Visitors have been flocking to Niagara Falls State Park, next to the American Falls, one of three waterfalls that make up the natural attraction on the US-Canada border between New York State and Ontario. Days of subzero temperatures have created a thick coating of ice and snow on every surface near the falls, including railings, trees and boulders.

Things aren't expected to thaw out soon: Temperatures dipped to 7 below zero in Niagara Falls on Friday morning.

SEE ALSO:

• 3 Stunning Shots Of The Partially Frozen Niagara Falls
• Niagara Freeze! World Famous Waterfalls Stopped In Their Tracks