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I wrote this Viewpoint
because many people seem to be missing information about Niagara FallsNew York Motels. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the moniker “Niagara” is alleged to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more riveting story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden betrothed 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 forever in the Thunder God’s sanctuary behind the Falls.
You most likely already know that tourism is the regions 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 railroads began advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't hard given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry enjoyed another boom immediately after World War One. It was the motorcar that provided 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 autos to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been attempting 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 lumbermill with a modest man made channel. The major growth came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to transmit electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls renders just about 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to bring in 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 innate beauty of the area. As luck would have it a group of caring citizens led by noted artist Frederick Church organized the Free Niagara campaign. This administration was successful in convincing the general community that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, started out purchasing land from developers in an attempt to slow the overwhelming development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each governances have been enormously successful at keeping up the area and restricting development so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich story of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your considering a holiday to the metropolitan area, I’m sure you’ll be able to find enough to do. I have named several fine books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a complete list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember to depart the area as decent 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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