Niagara Falls

Although I’ve never been to Niagara Falls, I’ve heard the most interesting stories about the experience. My family has considered traveling to the Falls over a long weekend. One of my friends just went up there last summer, and said it was such an amazing experience. Most people don’t think that the Niagara Falls would be a common vacation spot, but they have misjudged its significance.

Almost every year 12 million tourists visit the breathtaking Niagara Falls, and remember it for as long as they live. The position of the Falls probably is a helpful factor when it comes to attracting tourists. Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border and both in the Providence of Ontario and the State of New York, the Falls has a good chance of many different people coming to marvel at its magnificence. There are three different falls that make up the entire Niagara Falls. The American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls are the three components. With a brink of 1060 feet, and a height of about 176 feet, the American Falls combined with the Bridal Veil Falls is pretty large. I know this might be hard to believe, at least it was for me, but every second, 150,000 gallons of water pour over the edge of the two falls. The American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls are normally mentioned together, because they are only separated by a thin strip of land called Luna Island. The Canadian/Horseshoe Falls are the most famous. This fall has a brink of 2600 feet and a height of 167 feet. Every second that goes by, 600,000 gallons of water are plummeting over the edge. The idea that these pieces of information are true, is what makes Niagara Falls such an amazing landmark.

As mentioned earlier, one of my friends took a vacation to Niagara Falls last summer. She told me about her experience, as if I was actually there with her. One of the attractions that Niagara Falls offers is the opportunity to take a boat into the Falls. She took one of these boats into the center of the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls. Since this part of the Falls is in the shape of a horseshoe, once you get into the center, mist surrounds you as well as the roaring sound of the water crashing down. The passengers on the boat are given raincoats to prevent them from being completely soaked form head to two. Although, they don’t keep you 100% dry, the tourists prefer to have them on. My friend explained to me that once you get inside of the mist, you’re not sure if even the driver knows where they’re going. It’s so loud in the center of the falls, that just to talk to the person next to you, requires yelling. Eventually, the boat driver is able to navigate their way out of the mist and back to open waters. Just from here detailed story of her vacation, leaves me wishing that I can experience Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls, has many different ways for people to remember its significance. Some ways are by the beauty of the Falls when people see it for the first time. Others associate it with all the daredevils that have tried to conquer it and lived to tell the tale. And still others just remember it by the several lives that have been taken on purpose (suicide) or on accident by the strong waters of Niagara Falls. These few fun facts about Niagara Falls blew my mind (at least most of them did). I am sure that those who read them will be just as surprised as I was.

1. Niagara Falls is the second largest Falls in the world, trailing behind Victoria Falls in southern Africa.
2. The word “Niagara” is derived from the Iroquois Indian word “Onguiaahra”, meaning “the strait”.
3. Of all the fresh water in the world, one-fifth (twenty percent!!) of it is located in the four Upper Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron, Superior, and Erie). The outflow of water empties into the Niagara River, which eventually cascades over the Falls.
4. The flow of the entire Falls was stopped by an ice jam in the upper river on March 30th 1848.
5. The movies Niagara and Superman were filmed in parts of the Falls.
6. In the past ten years, Robert Overacker and Jessie W. Sharp, two daredevils, have lost their lives trying to conquer Niagara Falls.
7. For a long time, dropping over the Falls in a barrel or even just jumping into the water, was a common way to commit suicide.
8. The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a 63 year old schoolteacher.
9. Hire wire tightrope acts used to be performed across the river. The most memorable was “Blondin” who once carried his manager across on his back, stopping midway to rest.
10. In the evenings, Niagara Falls is bathed in bright colored spotlights.

Niagara Falls has its breathtaking views and memerable experiences. Many people wouldn’t think of Niagara Falls as a common vacation spot, but the fact that 12 million visitors come every year disproves that statement. I’ve never been to Niagara Falls, but if I ever get the chance, I wouldn’t pass it up.

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