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I wrote this Point of View
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Historical setting
While the name “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more stimulating story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden betrothed by her father to an Indian warrior she hated. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of wedding a man she did not love. The tale 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 likelihood 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 railroads began publicizing the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't hard given the history to romanticise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry savored another boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that furnished a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area went much easier and was one of the best vacation destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new cars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to harness the monumental 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 lumbermill with a small man made canal. The major growth came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering made it possible to transmit electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls supplies nearly 4.4GW of power to the surrounding areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans began to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was rapidly targeted by developers and entrepreneurs alike as a way to produce a quick 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 natural beauty of the area. Luckily a group of worried citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church formed the Free Niagara movement. This administration was successful in convincing the general populace that Conservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, chartered by New York State, began buying land from developers in an endeavor to slow the overpowering development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each establishments have been staggeringly successful at maintaining the area and constraining development so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your taking a vacation to the area, I’m sure you’ll be able to locate plenty to do. I have listed several good books at the end of this article or you can visit Amazon for a complete list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember to depart the area as decent 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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