NIAGARA FALLS - The record-breaking cold spell in the US has frozen parts of the Niagara Falls, inspiring a flurry of photo-sharing across the world as photographers brave sub-zero temperatures to capture the sight.

Contrary to initial Internet reports on Wednesday, the waterfall had not been completely frozen over, said the latest news reports including on CBS. Nor was its partial freezing an uncommon occurence. However, temperatures on Tuesday did plunge to nearly minus 20 degrees Celsius, causing some spectacular ice formations on both the US and Canada sides of the Niagara Falls.

Resident Tim Williams, who braved the severe cold to take his own photographs, told CTV Toronto that he had never seen the Niagara Falls like that, after having lived there for eight years.

With temperatures set to rise into the weekend, the Niagara Falls are expected to quickly return to its full flowing state soon.

The Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls - Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls - which drop straight down for more than 50m and have a combined fall rate that is the highest of any waterfall in the world.

It has frozen solid in only one year in recorded history and that was in 1848, according to environmentalgraffiti.com.