[1] The Rhine Falls were formed in the last ice age, approximately 14,000 to 17,000 years ago, by erosion-resistant rocks narrowing the riverbed.

Up to the end of the Wolstonian Stage approximately 132,000 years ago, the Rhine flowed westwards from Schaffhausen past Klettgau.

During the Würm glaciation, the Rhine was pushed far to the south to its present course, over a hard Late Jurassic limestone bed.

As the river flowed over both the hard limestone and the easily eroded gravel from previous glaciations, formed the waterfall.

The Swiss Alpine Club, the Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (a nature group) and several scientific societies opposed the plan.

Access to the other side of the river is possible through boat services or via a sidewalk on the railway bridge (Rheinfallbrücke) upstream of the waterfall.

Public transport in Switzerland is famous for its density and its coordination between services (trains, busses and boats) due to the clock-face schedule.

3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles)), but can be reached by frequent bus services operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffhausen (vbsh) and PostAuto.

As of December 2022, the following services exist from/to railway stations near the Rhine Falls: InterCity (IC) (combined hourly service): RegioExpress (RE) / Interregio-Express (IRE): Zürich S-Bahn: Schaffhausen S-Bahn: St. Gallen S-Bahn: Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffhausen (vbsh) lines: Trolley bus line 1 of vbsh (direction: Herbstäcker) is the most direct bus service between Schaffhausen railway station and the Rhine Falls.

PostAuto lines: During warmer seasons, frequent boat trips are offered from the Rhine Falls basin to one of the rocks in the middle of the waterfall (Rheinfallfelsen).

She says: "A portion of the cataract arches over the lowest platform, and the spray fell thickly on us, as standing on it and looking up, we saw wave, and rock, and cloud, and the clear heavens through its glittering ever-moving veil.