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I wrote this Editorial
because I want to share what I thought about Scenes of Niagara Falls. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the moniker “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more captivating story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden betrothed by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. She opted to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying a man she did not love. The tale 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 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 our Civil War the railroads began advertising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry savored another boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that offered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area turned much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new motorcars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to harness the monumental water flow as an perpetual supply of energy. The first successful effort to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a little man made canal. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This applied science made it possible to transmit electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes just about 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was rapidly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to score 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 price to the innate beauty of the area. Luckily a group of caring citizens led by noted artist Frederick Church organized the Free Niagara effort. This governance 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, began purchasing land from developers in an movement to slow the overwhelming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each administrations have been tremendously successful at conserving the area and restricting exploitation so that the next generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your debating a vacation to the region, I’m certain you’ll be able to locate enough to do. I have listed many 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 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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