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I wrote this Point of View
because I want much more for you than just mindless content about Niagara Falls interesting facts. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the name “Niagara” is said to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more intriguing story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden bespoken by her father to an Indian warrior she abhorred. 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 evermore in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You in all probability already know that tourism is the areas principal 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 hard given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry savored another boom immediately after World War One. It was the auto that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area turned much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new motorcars to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to rule the massive water flow as an eternal supply of energy. The first successful endeavor to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his lumbermill with a small man made canal. The major growth came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to transport electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls supplies around 4.4GW of power to the encircling areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans began to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was promptly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to build a quick fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for development. This came at a price to the raw beauty of the region. Luckily a group of worried citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church forged the Free Niagara social movement. This organization was successful in convincing the general public that Conservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, set about purchasing land from developers in an effort to retard the overwhelming development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organisations have been staggeringly successful at conserving the area and restraining development so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a deep history of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your considering a holiday to the metropolitan area, I’m sure you’ll be able to find plenty to do. I have listed a few adept books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a overall list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember to leave the area as nice as you found 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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