Niagara Falls
This attraction is related to the countries:CanadaUNITED STATESNiagara Falls is a cascade of waterfalls on the American-Canadian border, between New York State and the province of Ontario. Niagara Falls can arguably be called the most spectacular natural break in the earth’s crust.
>The Niagara River, which connects Lakes Erie and Ontario, falls from the height of a 50-meter cliff more than 1,000 meters wide. This waterfall is widely considered the most amazing natural wonder of North America.
Video: Niagara Falls
Contents- Highlights
- Tourists
- Destruction of Niagara Falls
- Legends, Myths and interesting facts
- Facts
- How to get there
Highlights
At the end of the last ice age, 12,000 years ago, five Great Lakes were formed following the retreat of a grand glacier: the Upper, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, and Erie. Abundant meltwater flowed beyond the shores of Lake Erie. They formed the stream we call the Niagara River. It cascades down a cliff known as the Niagara Escarpment into Lake Ontario. The name Niagara Falls refers to three separate waterfalls. Horseshoe Falls is by far the largest, located on the Canadian side of the river, and opposite it, on the American side, are American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The falls are separated by a chain of small islets, of which the most famous is Donkey Island on the Canadian side. Almost 90% of the Niagara River’s mass of water comes down from Horseshoe Falls, and only 10% passes through the U.S. territory.
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Niagara, like any other waterfall, looks different depending not only on the time of day, but also on the time of year. In spring and summer, the boiling white curtain is tinged with lush greens, in autumn – scarlet colors. In winter, only the edges of the river are frozen. From the rocks – ledges of the ridge gradually freeze huge, as big as a factory pipe, ice buildups – giant icicles”, sparkling with diamonds against the background of the raging water. “Pipes” is not a metaphor. “Icicles” of many large and small frozen, or rather, freezing waterfalls are really hollow inside, cone-shaped or expanding downward ice formations, through the transparent walls of which you can watch the water falling, pulsing and beating, resisting freezing.
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A formidable scene at Niagara Falls unfolds in early spring, during ice flow. Huge ice floes, like icebergs, shatter and disappear into the abyss with a rumble and roar. In 1848, the ice of Lake Erie blocked the source of the Niagara River in a dense mass, and the water in the waterfalls dried up. The locals, not understanding the cause of the phenomenon, expected the “end of the world”. For twenty-four hours no one slept. Thirty hours later, the water broke through the icy neck. The overthrow of water mixed with blocks of ice was like a volcanic eruption accompanied by an earthquake.
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Tourists
The waterfalls can be viewed from several vantage points. Table Rock, named after a rock ledge, is located at the right edge of the Canadian Horseshoe. With a tour called “Journey Behind the Falls,” you’ll find yourself behind a powerful wall of falling water. The ticket price includes protective clothing rental, but…. nothing near Niagara is capable of being waterproof. Don’t worry about it – seeing Niagara and yet not getting wet is odd to say the least. Just keep a supply of dry clothes in the car for a change.
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In clear weather, the rays of the sun refracting in tiny drops of water form seven-colored rainbows. There are several of them, often one within another. As with other giant waterfalls, the rainbow is unparalleled at night, in the light of the moon. The play of elements is so impressive that huge crowds of tourists watch it for hours without moving. Americans skillfully present the miracle of nature. Dozens of spotlights with a total capacity of 1.5 million kW are installed at the waterfall. The spotlights are multicolored. As soon as darkness falls on Niagara, their rays are directed to the continuously moving wall of the waterfall and, creating a fabulous illumination, enhance the already impressive picture. Therefore, a visit to Niagara Falls should definitely consist of at least two parts – daytime and evening.
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Away from the hustle and bustle is Queen Victoria Park, which is a welcome respite for hikers and cyclists in summer and skiers in winter. During these periods, the waterfalls take on a much more romantic appearance due to the relatively low number of tourists. In spring, the park’s magnificent daffodils, tulips, roses and magnolias bloom, and evening visitors to the park restaurant can admire a fabulous view of the waterfalls, decorated with night lighting.
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In addition, there is a fireworks show almost every evening on the Canadian side opposite American Falls. It usually starts at 10 PM, so even if you’ve seen enough of the nighttime waterfalls, it still makes sense to stay and wait for the fireworks. Although the fireworks are set off on the Canadian side, it’s better to watch them from the American side. Then you can take one look at the colored streams of water coming down the river and the streams of fire pouring from the sky. It is better to take care in advance about a convenient place near the waterfall. This is especially important if you need to set up a camera tripod, because by the time the fireworks start, a huge number of people gather along the railing on the river bank.
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Above and below the falls, bridges have been built along the river for the convenience of tourists to admire the grand spectacle, and observation decks leading to water attractions such as “MAID of the MIST” (see below) are open for free entry.
.Niagara Falls is a city on the Canadian side that takes you to where the water comes crashing down from great heights and with a wild rumble. But when taking a tour on your own, don’t get confused by the signs. It’s worth remembering that Niagara Street and Main Street lead to the border, and the Rainbow Bridge is the crossing from Canada to the United States.
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If, on the other hand, you’re ready to dive headfirst into Niagara, you’ll definitely be drawn to the ride on special boats. Here, people strap themselves into seats with seat belts, outfit themselves with life jackets, and collectively dive from May through October into the abyss of the elements! 115 South Water Street (115 South Water Street) (USA), 61 Melville Street (61 Melville street) (Canada), www.whirlpooljet.com
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Capturing natural wonders is mandatory and possible if you take advantage of simple ways to protect your photo and video equipment. The best way, of course, would be to buy a special box designed for shooting in water. Another option – a variety of plastic bags like AquaPack, which will protect from splashes, and from the sand on the beach and in the desert, and even from immersion of the camera in water. But all this, firstly, costs money (and sometimes a lot of money), and secondly, may not be at hand at the right moment. A hiking method of protecting the camera from splashes and sand is an ordinary polyethylene bag. It is desirable to screw a UV filter on the lens. The bag around the lens is tightened with a rubber band, and a simple camera protection is ready!
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Walk into Canada, over the Rainbow bridge, 50 cents on foot, $2.50 border toll by car. You can stop in the middle of the bridge and take plenty of pictures of the panorama, and the overly adventurous can even have a picnic until the border guards come for them. You can bet who will get there first: Americans or Canadians.
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By the way, the Canadian side has created a mini-Las Vegas, unlike the boring American side. The swankiest hotels and a newly opened, huge casino-hotel overlooking the Niagara River! Only on the Canadian side are there hotels with a view of Niagara Falls from the hot tub of a five-star room. It’s breathtaking, romantic, and you want to live forever! There are only six such hotels, and all of them are unique. One more detail: while walking around the town, don’t try to find a place to buy a beer on the way or some other alcoholic liquid, you will waste your time. Such products are sold only in a special wine supermarket! But the choice is huge!
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Legends, myths and interesting facts
Niagara Falls has always been very popular with tourists and honeymooners around the world. This natural phenomenon has been the impetus for amazing displays of bravery, which has given rise to many legends and myths.
.Every year, about 20 people choose Niagara Falls to commit suicide…. But there are also those who are drawn to the adventure…. For 200 years, daring adventurers have sought fame and glory here.
In October 1829, Sam Patch, who called himself The Yankee Leaper, jumped from Horseshoe Falls and became the first known person to survive the fall. This started a long tradition of daredevils, and despite the unpredictability of the outcome, the flow of willing participants was already hard to stop.
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On July 25, 1911, Bobby Leach became the second man to descend Niagara Falls in a barrel roll in search of fame… He spent six months in the hospital before recovering from the injuries he sustained during the fall. Ironically, he died in New Zealand from complications following surgery to amputate a leg he broke by slipping on an orange peel.
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1990. Jesse Sharp, 28, makes a jump from Niagara Falls in a kayak. Without any means of protection. no body is found.
.1995. Robert Overacker, 39 years old. Jumps from a waterfall on a jet ski, only to have his parachute open after the jump…. Parachute fails to open… Body found downstream..Kirk Jones on October 20, 2003, became the first person to go over the falls without any equipment. It is still unknown whether he simply wanted to commit suicide by falling from the height of a 16-story building, or perhaps he was intoxicated… Nevertheless, he only suffered broken ribs, abrasions and bruises as a result of the fall.
.Before you go to repeat the feats of non-Russian-speaking heroes, take note that all cases of miraculous rescues are recorded at the waterfalls “Horseshoe” and “Bridal Veil”. No one has survived after falling from “American Falls” because its bottom is covered with boulders and the flow is relatively weak and cannot throw a person farther from the edge.
.Facts
- Location and size: Niagara Falls is located in Canada and the United States. The fault is 1155 m wide: 792 m on the Canadian side and 363 m on the U.S. side.
- Height: The highest point of the precipice is 58 m above the water’s surface.
- Water mass: 6,000 cubic meters of water passes through Niagara Falls per second, with 90% passing through the “Horseshoe” on the Canadian side. Erosion: In 1931, 70,000 tons of rock fell from the cliffs on the American side of the bluff into the water. A few years later, 27,000 tons fell from the Horseshoe bluff. Another significant collapse on the U.S. side was recorded in 1954: 170,000 tons.
- Rare Freezing: If the air gets very cold. Niagara Falls can completely freeze over. The last time this happened was in the winter of 2014 .
How to get there
From Canada
From Toronto to the town of Niagara Falls is 130 kilometers. Coach Canada buses leave every one and a half to two hours from the central Toronto Coach Terminal bus station. The ride time is about two hours. The ticket price is 15 dollars. You can buy tickets and see the schedule on the Company’s website. A local bus runs from the Niagara Falls bus station to Niagara Falls. The ride takes about 20 minutes and the ticket price is about 5 dollars. But be careful and find out in advance when it returns to Niagara Falls. Otherwise there is a chance to miss the return bus to Toronto. Of course, you can also use a cab, but the price of the question will be much higher.
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From the US
You can get to Niagara in all known ways, the most economical is by bus, and if it’s overnight, you save two nights in hotels (round trip). I must say that the nine-hour journey is quite normal, especially when you doze the whole way, in the waking moments admiring the nature of New York State. You can easily stretch your limbs at “servicerias”, a mixture of department stores and gas stations of American size! The main thing is to buy your ticket in advance, two weeks before the trip it is 50% cheaper.
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