Walking around taking pictures near the top of Niagara Falls, I noticed this red buoy. “That’s a weird place for a channel marker,” I thought. Boats aren’t allowed anywhere near the falls. I took a picture and went on my way.

Now that I’m home, I’m trying to figure what this is all about. I Googled “niagara red buoy,” but couldn’t find any mention of it. It looks like this one has a “28” on it, so I went to the NOAA charts. According to 14832, the only buoys that are supposed to be in the immediate area are a line of markers at the upriver boundary of the no-go safety zone. There is, however, supposed to be a red “28” way upstream at the South Grand Island Bridge. (Here it is in the Google Maps satellite picture: link.) Is it possible that red 28 came loose and got stuck on the rocks above Niagara Falls?! (It doesn’t look like there’s any mention of it here…)