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Historical setting
While the moniker “Niagara” is alleged to come from an Iroquois word “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more noteworthy story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden engaged by her father to an Indian warrior she hated. 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 forever in the Thunder God’s sanctuary behind the Falls.
You 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 our Civil War the railways began publicising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to glamorise Niagara Falls as an ideal honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry savored a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that offered 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 cars to.
Almost from the instance that Niagara Falls was found man has been attempting to harness the massive 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 lumbermill with a small man made channel. The major development came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla devised the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This technology made it possible to channel electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes nearly 4.4GW of power to the bordering 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 make a fast 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 innate beauty of the region. Luckily a group of caring citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church conceived the Free Niagara effort. 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, began purchasing land from developers in an campaign to slow the consuming development in the area. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each organizations have been staggeringly successful at preserving the area and cutting back development so that future generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonder.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a deep story of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your considering a vacation to the region, I’m certain you’ll be able to locate enough to do. I have listed many sound books at the end of this article or you can visit Amazon for a total list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to leave 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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