Set on the banks of the mighty Niagara River, in the western part of New York State, the city of Niagara Falls is named after its star attraction, the breathtaking Niagara Falls. These impressive waterfalls are considered one of the great natural wonders of the world and, while not among the world's highest, they remain unrivalled in terms of their sheer volume of water. Six million cubic feet of water drop over the precipice every minute, creating so much spray that visitors are likely to see the rising mist long before they see the falls themselves. The falls are protected by the Niagara Falls State Park, which features a conveniently located Observation Tower offering panoramic views of all three waterfalls. Visitors can also look forward to exploring the Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre and the Aquarium of Niagara, which is home to a fascinating array of wildlife including seals, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins.