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I wrote this Commentary
because I want much more for you than just mindless content about what is the niagara falls. I hope you'll find some
useful information to put to good use.
Historical background
While the name “Niagara” is told to come from an Iroquois phrase “Onguiaahra”, or “The Strait”, I have discovered the folklore to be a more fascinating story. The fable from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden affianced by her father to an Indian warrior she abhorred. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of marrying 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 forever in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the regions primary source of income. This really commenced during the early 1900's and even Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte visited with his bride. After this country's Civil War the railways began advertising the area as a holiday spot. It wasn't difficult given the history to romanticize Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The touristry industry enjoyed a second boom immediately after World War One. It was the car that rendered a much need boost to the industry. Travel to the area turned 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 seeking to harness the massive 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 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 transfer electricity over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes about 4.4GW of power to the encircling areas of both the United States and Canada.
Preservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was rapidly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to attain a fast 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 natural beauty of the area. Luckily a group of caring citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church organised the Free Niagara effort. This organization was successful in convincing the general community that Preservation of the area was in its best concern.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, started 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. Both establishments have been tremendously successful at maintaining the area and restricting development so that the next generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so very much to offer. From a rich history of romance and adventure to a true natural wonder. If your looking for a vacation to the metropolitan area, I’m sure you’ll be able to locate plenty to do. I have listed several dependable books at the closing of this article or you can visit Amazon for a total list of books on Niagara Falls. Please don't forget to depart 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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