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Historical setting
While the name “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more riveting story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden pledged by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. 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 sanctuary behind the Falls.
You most likely 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 this country's Civil War the railways began advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't hard given the history to glamourise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry savored another boom immediately after World War One. It was the auto that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area got 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 trying to harness the massive 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 small man made channel. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to channel electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls renders almost 4.4GW of power to the bordering areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation 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 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 region. Fortunately a group of caring citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara crusade. This organization was successful in convincing the general populace that Conservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, set about purchasing land from developers in an effort to slow 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 hugely successful at preserving the area and curbing growth so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich account of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your deliberating a holiday to the vicinity, I’m sure you’ll be able to find enough to do. I have named various beneficial books at the end of this article or you can visit Amazon for a absolute list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart the area as nice 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
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