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Historical backdrop
While the moniker “Niagara” is alleged to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have found the folklore to be a more rousing story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden pledged by her father to an Indian warrior she loathed. She opted to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying 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 always in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You in all probability 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 Civil War the railways began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't hard 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 car that provided a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area went much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new autos 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 little man made channel. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This applied science made it possible to transfer electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls provides approximately 4.4GW of power to the bordering areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans began to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was quickly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to bring in 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 toll to the raw beauty of the area. As luck would have it a group of worried citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara drive. This organisation was successful in convincing the general public that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, set about purchasing land from developers in an effort to slow down the overpowering development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both organizations have been staggeringly successful at upholding the area and curbing exploitation so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonder.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich history of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your deliberating a holiday to the metropolitan area, I’m certain you’ll be able to locate enough to do. I have named several good books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a full list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember to depart the area as decent 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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