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Historical background
While the moniker “Niagara” is supposed 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 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 history 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 probably already know that tourism is the regions main 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 railways began publicising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamourize Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the automobile that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area became much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new automobiles to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was found man has been seeking to harness the massive water flow as an perpetual supply of energy. The first successful attempt to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a minor man made canal. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This technology made it possible to transfer electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls provides more than 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 create 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 cost to the natural beauty of the region. As luck would have it a group of worried citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara crusade. This governance was successful in convincing the general populace that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, commenced buying land from developers in an movement 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 administrations have been staggeringly successful at maintaining the area and cutting back development so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a rich chronicle of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your deliberating 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 end of this article or you can visit Amazon for a complete list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to leave 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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