|
I wrote this Commentary
because I felt compelled to clarify some of the uninformed statements made about lundys lane niagara falls canada accommodations. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is stated to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have found the folklore to be a more intriguing story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden bespoken by her father to an Indian warrior she loathed. She opted 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 evermore in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the areas main 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 advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry savored 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 went much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new cars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been seeking to rule the monumental water flow as an eternal supply of energy. The first successful endeavor 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 exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla formulated the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to transport electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls provides just about 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans commenced to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was rapidly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to realise 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 caring citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church forged the Free Niagara drive. This organisation was successful in convincing the general community 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 movement to slow down the overwhelming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organisations have been staggeringly successful at conserving the area and curtailing development so that future generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a rich account of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your considering a vacation to the metropolitan area, I’m certain you’ll be able to discover plenty to do. I have listed a few dependable 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 depart the area as nice 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
|
