|
I wrote this Viewpoint
because I felt compelled to clarify some of the uninformed statements made about Niagara Falls State Park - Wildlife. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is told to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more remarkable 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 espousing a man she did not love. The chronicle says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live always in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You in all likelihood already know that tourism is the areas primary source of income. This really commenced during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After this country's Civil War the railroads began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamourize Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the auto that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area got much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new automobiles to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was found man has been trying to rule the massive water flow as an eternal supply of energy. The first successful attempt to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a little man made channel. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering made it possible to channel electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls provides roughly 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans began to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to build a fast fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for development. This came at a cost to the innate beauty of the area. Fortunately a group of worried citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church formed the Free Niagara social movement. This administration was successful in convincing the general public that Conservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, set out purchasing land from developers in an campaign to slow the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organisations have been enormously successful at upholding the area and restraining exploitation so that the next generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your considering a holiday to the area, I’m sure you’ll be able to find enough to do. I have numbered various fine books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a total list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart the area as decent as you discovered 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
|
