|
I wrote this Viewpoint
because many people were confused about where is Niagara Falls. Hopefully 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 discovered the folklore to be a more intriguing story. The legend from Native American Indians tells of Lelawala, a gorgeous maiden affianced by her father to an Indian warrior she despised. She chose to sacrifice herself to the Thunder God He-No instead of espousing a man she did not love. The chronicle says that she paddled her canoe over the falls and into He-No’s arms. Together their souls will live evermore in the Thunder God’s refuge behind the Falls.
You probably already know that tourism is the areas primary source of income. This really began 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 difficult given the history to glamorise Niagara Falls as an idealistic honeymoon destination.
The tourism industry savored another 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 holiday destinations that New Yorkers could drive their shiny new motorcars to.
Almost from the time that Niagara Falls was found man has been attempting to rule the massive water flow as an eternal supply of energy. The first successful endeavor to use the falls as an energy source was documented in 1759 when Daniel Joncairs powered his sawmill with a little man made channel. The major evolution came in 1883 when Nikola Tesla invented the three-phase system of alternating current power transmission. This engineering science made it possible to transmit electrical energy over long distances. Today Niagara Falls furnishes just about 4.4GW of power to the encircling areas of both the United States and Canada.
Conservation efforts
Once Europeans started to settle in the Niagara Falls area it was rapidly targeted by developers and enterprisers alike as a way to realise a speedy fortune. Unlike today most of the land in the area was privately owned and was easily acquired for development. This came at a price to the raw beauty of the area. As luck would have it a group of concerned citizens directed by noted artist Frederick Church forged the Free Niagara crusade. This establishment was successful in convincing the general populace that Preservation of the area was in its best interest.
In 1885 the Niagara Reservation State Park, engaged by New York State, started out purchasing land from developers in an movement to slow down the overwhelming development in the region. The Canadians followed suit in the same year with the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Each governances have been hugely successful at conserving the area and restraining growth so that succeeding generations will be able to enjoy this natural wonderment.
Niagara has so much to offer. From a rich history of romance and adventure to a major natural wonder. If your considering a holiday to the region, I’m sure you’ll be able to find plenty to do. I have named several beneficial 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
|
