NIAGARA FALLS                  177
Burning Spring.
About half a mile north of Lundy's Lane, and
within a few feet of the rapids in the Niagara river,
is a Burning Spring. The water is warm and sur-
charged with sulphuretted hydrogen gas. The water
rises in a barrel, which is covered, and the gases-
capes through a tube. On applying a candle to the
tube, the gas takes fire, and burns with a brilliant
flame until blown out ; and on closing the building
for a short time in which the spring is contained,
and afterwards entering it with a lighted candle, an
explosion may be produced. A small fee for the
exhibition is required by the keeper of the spring.
Half a mile from the Burning Spring, are the cele-
brated
NIAGARA FALLS.
They are situated on the Niagara River, which
unites the waters of Lake Erie and the upper lakes
with Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. The riv-
er is 35 miles in length, and from 1-2 mile to 5 or 6
in width. The banks of the river vary in their
height above the Falls, from 4 to 100 feet. Imme-
diately below the Falls the precipice is not less than
300 feet, and from thence to lake Ontario gradually
diminishes to the height of 25 or 30 feet. The Ni-
agara river contains a number of islands, the princi-
pal of which is Grand Island, which was ceded to
the state of New-York by the Seneca Nation of In-
dians, in 1S15. For the grant the state paid $1000
down, and secured an annuity of $500. This isl-
and is 12 miles long, and from 2 to 7 broad.
The Falls are situated below Grand Island, about
20 miles distant from Lake Erie, and 14 from Lake
Ontario. At Cihppewa creek, 2 miles above the
Falls, the width of the river is nearly 2miles, and its
current extremely rapid. From thence to the Falls
«gradually narrows to about 1 mile in width.   Th"