When you think of Niagara Falls, you probably think of rushing water and epic waterfalls. Visiting the falls is truly a magnificent experience, but if you happen to visit the falls right now, right after a winter storm, you’ll see the falls in a way that most people don’t – partially frozen.

Buffalo New York recently experienced a deadly winter storm, but the storm also transformed the northern part of the state and Ontario, Canada, across the border, into a winter wonderland, and that includes Niagara Falls.

While it is nearly impossible for the waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls to completely freeze, the water on the surface can freeze, and the observation decks are also covered with snow and ice. The New York Post shared a video of what the falls look like right now, and it’s truly spectacular.

According to the Niagara Parks website, while it can look like the falls are frozen, this is just an illusion. When it is really cold outside, the mist and spray in the air create an icy crust on top of the water that can make it appear as if the waterfalls have completely stopped, but that is not actually the case. Under that icy crust, the water is still moving.

It is more common for the falls on the American side to look frozen than on the Canadian side because less water falls over the American falls. Since there is less water, it’s easier for ice to build up and for the water to look completely frozen.

While it is usually just an illusion when Niagara Falls looks completely frozen, it is actually possible, though extremely rare, for the falls to completely freeze. This actually happened back in 1848. In March of that year, the falls were frozen solid for a total of 30 hours.

Have you ever visited Niagara Falls? Does it look like a winter wonderland where you live right now?