Niagara Falls – a must see sight in the world

Niagara Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lies on the border of the United States and Canada with the American Falls entirely on the United states’ side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the United States’s side, separated from the other waterfalls by luna island. The International boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction.

Flowing north as part of the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 50 m (160 ft). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate. Niagara Falls is located 27 km (17 miles) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 121 km (75 miles) south-southeast of Toronto, between the win cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation(the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path over and through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. Niagara Falls is famed for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power.

The cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York, United States, are connected by two international bridges. The Rainbow Bridge, just downriver from the falls, affords the closest view of the falls and is open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians. The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge lies one mile (1.6 km) north of the Rainbow Bridge and is the oldest bridge over the Niagara River. An important and interesting chapter of the Niagara story tells of the stunners, daredevils, individuals who have deliberately challenged Horseshoe Falls. 

The first was a 63-year-old former dance instructor by the name of Annie Edison Taylor who had been living in bay city Michigan. On October 24, 1901, she went over the falls in a 160-pound wooden barrel, and survived, bleeding, but otherwise unharmed. Soon after exiting the barrel, she said, “No one ought ever to do that again.”Days before Taylor’s attempt, her domestic cat was sent over the falls in her barrel to test its strength. The cat survived the plunge unharmed. Since Taylor’s historic ride, over a dozen people have intentionally gone over the falls in or on a device, despite her advice. Some have survived unharmed, but others have drowned or been severely injured.

Tightrope walkers Also drew huge crowds to witness their exploits. Their wires ran across the gorge, near the current Rainbow Bridge, not over the waterfall. Survivors face charges and stiff fines, as it is now illegal, on both sides of the border, to attempt to go over the falls.

Peak visitor traffic occurs in the summertime, when Niagara Falls is both a daytime and evening attraction. The oldest and best known tourist attraction at Niagara Falls is the Maid of the Mist boat cruise, named for an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character, which has carried passengers into the rapids immediately below the falls since 1846. Cruise boats operate from boat docks on both sides of the falls, with the Maid of the Mist operating from the American side and Hornblower cruises from the Canadian side.From the U.S. side, American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Observation Tower and a boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by foot and automobile traffic by bridge above American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Wind is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls.Most of these attractions lie within the Niagara Falls state Park.

Already a huge tourist attraction and favorite spot for honeymooners, Niagara Falls visits rose sharply in 1953 after the release of the movie, “Niagara”.The main reason to visit Niagara Falls is to see the falls and one of the most memorable ways to do just that is to sport a poncho and hop on a Maid of the Mist boat.

Other reasons you should visit Niagara Falls(not needed) is because you’re able to get up and close to something so powerful. The sound of the waterfall is soothing, the mist while walking near is refreshing, the splashes you’ll feel while taking the boat near and walking even closer at the bottom is just plain fun. Plus if you can enter into Canada, walking behind them is just a unique experience. There are more restaurants and family things to do on both sides of the waterfall.We all need to get away from the hussel and bussel of our busy lives and contemplate the grandeur of nature. It helps us all connect with who we are and what the universe has to offer us.

Anjalee Senadeera
Science Faculty