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I wrote this Commentary
because I felt compelled to clarify some of the uninformed statements made about Tourist Attractions in Niagara Falls Canada. Hopefully 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 discovered the folklore to be a more noteworthy story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden pledged by her father to an Indian warrior she abhorred. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of wedding 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 evermore in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You in all probability already know that tourism is the regions main 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 railways began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't hard 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 provided a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area became much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new cars to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been attempting to harness the monumental water flow as an perpetual supply of energy. The first successful campaign to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a small man made channel. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This applied science made it possible to transport electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls renders just about 4.4GW of power to the surrounding 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 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 price to the innate beauty of the area. Luckily a group of concerned citizens led by noted artist Frederick Church forged the Free Niagara social movement. This organisation was successful in convincing the general populace that Conservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, began purchasing land from developers in an campaign to retard 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 enormously successful at keeping up the area and restricting growth 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 major natural wonder. If your taking a vacation to the vicinity, I’m certain you’ll be able to locate plenty to do. I have listed a few fine books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a overall list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart the area as nice 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
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