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I wrote this Commentary
because I seriously question the statements made about body rub Niagara Falls. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical backdrop
While the moniker “Niagara” is said to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more spellbinding story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden pledged by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of wedding 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 principal source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After our country's Civil War the railways began publicizing the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The tourism 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 motorcars to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to harness the massive 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 lumbermill with a small man made channel. The major development came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This technology made it possible to transfer electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls will bring nearly 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 promptly 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 cost to the raw beauty of the area. Fortunately a group of caring citizens led by noted artist Frederick Church formed the Free Niagara movement. This governance was successful in convincing the general public that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, set about buying land from developers in an campaign to slow down the overwhelming development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each establishments have been enormously successful at preserving the area and cutting back growth so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a deep account of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your taking a vacation to the region, I’m certain you’ll be able to discover plenty to do. I have listed many fine 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 decent 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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