 This documentary looks at the history, geology, and mystique of one of planet Earth s greatest wonders. Niagara Falls has long been a magical place, alluring and attractive, a place of extremes that draws both daredevils and engineers, honeymooners and suicides, pilgrims and dreamers. Since 1901 sixteen people have ridden over the Falls in a barrel, with five dying in the attempt. While 50,000 honeymooners visit each year, a suicide takes place about once every two weeks. The five Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the entire world s supply of fresh water, and the Niagara River, which drains four of them, is the largest river in the world by volume of water carried per mile. In the 1890s Niagara was at the center of the technological revolution in electrical power generation. Today the Falls have been thoroughly tamed--by day only 50% of the total amount of water flowing through the Niagara River goes over the Falls, dropping to 25% at night; the rest is diverted through massive hydroelectric generating stations.