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I wrote this Editorial
because I want to share what I thought about Niagara Falls Review Saturday February 18 2006. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the moniker “Niagara” is stated to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more absorbing story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden affianced by her father to an Indian warrior she loathed. She opted to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying a man she did not love. The history says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live eternally in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the areas primary source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After this country's Civil War the railways began advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the automobile that supplied a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area went much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new autos to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was found man has been trying to rule the monumental water flow as an endless supply of energy. The first successful effort to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his lumbermill with a modest man made channel. The major growth came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This applied science made it possible to transmit electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls renders just about 4.4GW of power to the surrounding areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans commenced to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was promptly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to earn a speedy fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for growth. This came at a toll to the natural beauty of the region. As luck would have it a group of concerned citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara campaign. This administration was successful in convincing the general public that Preservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, began buying land from developers in an movement to slow the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each organizations have been tremendously successful at maintaining the area and curbing growth so that future generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a robust chronicle of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your looking for a vacation to the region, I’m sure you’ll be able to discover plenty to do. I have listed several fine books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a full list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to leave the area as nice as you encountered it and to leave the barrel at home.
Niagara Falls : An Intimate Portrait - by John Grant
Fodor's Toronto 2006 : With Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region (Fodor's Gold Guides) - by Fodor's
In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls - by T. W. Kriner
Niagara Falls Volume II (Images of America) - by Daniel M. Dumych
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