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I wrote this Commentary
because I felt compelled to clarify some of the uninformed statements made about niagara falls canada tourist information. With any luck you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical setting
While the name “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more engrossing 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 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 sanctuary behind the Falls.
You in all probability already know that tourism is the regions primary 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 advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry savored a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that supplied a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area turned much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new motorcars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was found man has been seeking to rule the massive water flow as an eternal 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 growth 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 almost 4.4GW of power to the encompassing areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was promptly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to score a speedy 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 region. Fortunately a group of concerned citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara movement. This governance was successful in convincing the general populace that Conservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, began buying land from developers in an campaign to slow the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organisations have been tremendously successful at preserving the area and confining exploitation so that succeeding 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 looking for a holiday to the area, I’m sure you’ll be able to discover enough to do. I have listed many dependable books at the conclusion 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 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
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