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I wrote this Viewpoint
because I seriously question the statements made about toronto to niagara falls trips. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is supposed to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have noticed the folklore to be a more exciting story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden affianced 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 history says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live eternally in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You most likely already know that tourism is the regions principal 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 advertising the area as a vacation spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry savored another boom immediately after World War One. It was the auto that furnished 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 cars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was discovered man has been seeking to rule the monumental water flow as an eternal 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 small man made channel. The major exploitation came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This technology made it possible to transmit electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls provides around 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 entrepreneurs alike as a way to pull in 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 price to the innate beauty of the region. As luck would have it a group of worried citizens guided by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara social movement. 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, chartered by New York State, started purchasing land from developers in an endeavor to retard the overwhelming development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Both governances have been tremendously successful at maintaining the area and restricting growth so that new generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonder.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich chronicle of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your debating a vacation to the metropolitan area, I’m certain you’ll be able to find enough to do. I have numbered various 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 leave the area as decent 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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