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I wrote this Editorial
because I felt something must be said about niagara falls tourism info. Hopefully you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is stated to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more rousing story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden bespoken by her father to an Indian warrior she detested. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of espousing 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 evermore in the Thunder God’s sanctuary behind the Falls.
You likely already know that tourism is the regions chief source of income. This really commenced 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 difficult given the history to glamorize Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed 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 went much easier and was one of the best holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new automobiles to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been attempting to harness the monumental water flow as an perpetual supply of energy. The first successful endeavor 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 made it possible to transfer electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes just about 4.4GW of power to the surrounding 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 gain 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 toll to the natural beauty of the area. As luck would have it a group of caring citizens led by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara drive. 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, engaged by New York State, started purchasing land from developers in an attempt 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 establishments have been enormously successful at keeping up the area and constraining development so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonder.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a rich account of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your shopping for a vacation to the area, I’m certain you’ll be able to discover enough to do. I have listed several dependable books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a overall list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to leave 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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