NIAGARA FALLS

NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara Falls are really beautiful to look at. As I have seen both sides of the falls. I had seen them when my parents took us on another vacation. We were on our way to New York City to see the Empire State Building and on toward Washington D.C. They were truly amazing to see that much water go down over the ledge. I also feel very priviledged that my father took us on all kinds of vacations.

The Falls border two cities Niagara Falls, Canada and the United States of America.

The falls are separated by Goat Island, on the American side. There are smaller falls on the American side called (Bridal Veil Falls and is separated by Luna Island.

Niagara Falls was first formed when the last ice age occurred. That was about 10,000 years ago. And that was when the Great Lakes were formed also. Although, they are not very deep as they are wide.

The falls are not only known for their beauty, but also known for the electrical power also.

These maintain:

A. Commercial
B. Recreational
C. And Industrial usage

The Horseshoe Falls are larger than the American Falls. The Horseshoes Falls has a drop of some 173 feet. While the American Falls has a drop 0f 70 to 100 feet. There are boulders on the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls. Because of this these falls are wider than they are deep. The Horseshoe Falls are 2,600 wide and the other is only 1,600 feet wide.

During the peak season the flow of the water may increase. This usually happens is Spring or early Summer. This is sure an exciting thing to watch.

The original falls lie near the present sites. Queenstown, Ontario and Lewiston, New York). But because of some erosion, this caused the falls to move some 6.8 miles south. The Horseshoe Falls got its name because of having an arch in it.

The falls generate power to Canada and to New York State.

On an average day the falls an average of falling some 1,500,000 gallons. The Power Authority of New York and the Ontario power work together to prevent ice buildup along with Niagara River.

There is a bridge called Rainbow Bridge that pedestrians can cross and vehicles to see both sides of the falls. This is as close as you can get to see the falls. The oldest bridge is the Whirpool Rapids Bridge about a mile away. The new bridge called (LEWISTON-QUEENSTOWN).

People have been going over the falls since 1829. Some of them have been injured and facing stiff fines and others have died.

There have been some tight ropers also. Some of them have even tried swimming the Niagara River.

On July of 1984 a man from Hamilton, Ontario went down the falls in a barrel and he survived. Some 10 years later he tried to do the same thing over and this time he did not survive. There are still more people going over the falls. The last person to go over the falls was in March of this year.

The most visitors come to see the falls in the summer months. When you can view the falls at night. They expect the number of people to visit the falls this year is about 28 million. The best known attraction is the boat called (MAID OF THE MIST). This boat carries passengers into the rapids below the falls. The boat sails on both sides of the falls.

The American side of the falls can be seen from the walkway along (PROSPECT POINT PARK) or from the (OBSERVATION TOWER).

The next time I visit the falls I would like to go behind the falls and take a ride on the boat, and to do some hiking.

The Niagara Trolley offers guided tours along the American side of the falls. This also goes to Goat Island. A panoramic view of the falls can be seen from:

a. Flight of Angels Balloon and
b. Helicopter rides

There is a luxury hotel in New York owned by the SENECA INDIANS.

On the Canadian side there is a garden and platforms, and an observation tower that gives you a view of the falls, and when you look the other way you can see TORONTO. And along with another tower in Toronto: called the (KONICA-MINOLTA TOWER).

Along the Niagara River there is a trail that runs 35 miles from FORT ERIE to FORT GEORGE. That includes historical sites from the war of 1812.

The Whirpool Area Cars take you over the whirlpool on the Canadian side. The journey behind the falls can be gotten to from the entrances on the street. That takes you to the observation tower and a series of tunnels on the Canadian side.

There are two casinos on the Canadian they are called:

A. Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
B. Casino Niagara