Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and also by flow rate.iagara Falls (/naɪˈaeɡrə/ , Naɪˈæɡrə: Cayuga gahnawehtaˀ Or) tgahnawęhtaˀ is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border Between canada and The United; states more, specifically between the province Of ontario and the state Of New. York they form the southern end of The Niagara. gorge