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I wrote this Viewpoint
because I felt something must be said about stained glass niagara falls. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical setting
While the moniker “Niagara” is stated to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have observed the folklore to be a more intriguing story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden betrothed by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. She opted 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 always in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You most likely already know that tourism is the areas principal source of income. This really started during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After our country's Civil War the railroads began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorise Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry savored a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the automobile 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 autos to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been trying to harness the monumental water flow as an endless 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 minor man made canal. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised 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 supplies about 4.4GW of power to the surrounding areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was promptly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to build a speedy 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 raw beauty of the area. Luckily a group of concerned citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara effort. This administration was successful in convincing the general public that Conservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, set out purchasing land from developers in an attempt to slow the overwhelming 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 restricting growth so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural marvel.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a robust chronicle of romance and adventure to a real natural wonder. If your deliberating a vacation to the vicinity, I’m sure you’ll be able to discover plenty to do. I have listed many fine books at the conclusion of this article or you can visit Amazon for a entire list of books on Niagara Falls. Please remember 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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