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I wrote this Viewpoint
because I felt compelled to clarify some of the uninformed statements made about niagara falls in 1850. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the moniker “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more noteworthy story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden affianced by her father to an Indian warrior she loathed. 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 always in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the areas primary source of income. This really began during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After our Civil War the railroads began publicizing the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't hard given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the car 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 cars to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was found man has been seeking to rule the massive water flow as an endless 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 minor man made channel. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering made it possible to channel electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls renders roughly 4.4GW of power to the surrounding 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 entrepreneurs alike as a way to realize a fast 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 area. Fortunately a group of caring citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara crusade. This administration 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, began purchasing land from developers in an campaign to slow the overpowering 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 growth so that the next generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich story of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your debating a vacation to the vicinity, I’m certain you’ll be able to locate enough to do. I have named various dependable books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a entire list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart 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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