NIAGARA FALLS
Considered one the 7 forgotten natural wonders of the world Niagara falls is believed to have formed some 12 000 years ago as a result of glacier melt down.
The name Niagara comes from the name of the tribe that inhabited the Niagara region when the Europeans discovered America. Althought their original name is not really known were referred to as the tribe "Onguiaahra" meaning the tribe of thundering waters.
Niagara falls is a formation of 3 waterfalls:
- American Falls (Rainbow Falls)
- Bridal Veil Falls (Luna Falls or Iris Falls)
- Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Falls)
Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls
The name speaks for the shape of the water falls. The width of Canadian falls is 977 ft (298 meters) and its height is 173 ft (53 meters). Horseshoe falls is known as Canadian falls because most of the falls is on the Canadian side. Horshoe falls is notorious for the number of daredevils that have attempted free fall - 14 daredevils and 5 of them died during the attempts.
With its height of 183 ft (56 meters) American falls is the highest of all Niagara Falls.
Although not a lot shorter than American Falls this is the smalles and shortest of all 3 falls. Its height is 181 ft (55 meters). Its width is only 56 feet (17 meters). In this pictures it is seen in the far right side.
NIAGARA FALLS ATTRACTIONS
Tourism
Summertime is when most tourists visit Niagara falls. This is the time when the falls become both daytime and evening attraction. A must see attraction is the colorful floodlights that illuminate bot sides of Niagara falls.
Daredevils
Niagara falls has always inspired adventurists, book writers and movie producers and daredevils.
Over the years there have been 15 attemts to conquer the waterfalls in a barrel. 5 of them ended fataly.
63 year old female school teacher by the name of Annie Taylor from Michigan was the first person to go over Niagara falls in a barrel and survive. Her barrel was made of oak and iron and was padded with a mattress.
Maid of the Mist is a half-hour Niagara falls boat tour which starts near Rainbow Bridge and takes the passangers to the water falls.
This tour is available both on US and Candian side of Niagara.