|
I wrote this Article
because I seriously question the statements made about niagara falls canada tourism information. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical setting
While the name “Niagara” is said to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more noteworthy story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden engaged by her father to an Indian warrior she hated. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of wedding a man she did not love. The story 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 refuge behind the Falls.
You in all likelihood already know that tourism is the areas chief source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After our Civil War the railways began publicising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't hard given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed another boom immediately after World War One. It was the motorcar that provided 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 time that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to harness the monumental water flow as an endless supply of energy. The first successful attempt to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his lumbermill with a minor 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 transport electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes just about 4.4GW of power to the bordering areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans commenced to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to take in a quick 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 natural beauty of the area. As luck would have it a group of caring citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara social movement. This organization was successful in convincing the general public that Preservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, commenced purchasing land from developers in an movement to retard the overpowering development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each administrations have been enormously successful at conserving the area and limiting development so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your shopping for a vacation to the vicinity, I’m certain you’ll be able to find plenty to do. I have numbered a few fine books at the end of this article or you can visit Amazon for a complete list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember to leave the area as decent 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
|
