Traveler's Guide to Niagara Falls

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General

Niagara Falls are two massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River, which forms the boundary between New York State, USA, and Ontario in Canada.

The American Falls are located on the American side of the border, and only about ten percent of the total waterfall volume flows through them. Their height is 55 meters and their width is 330 meters. To the right of the American Falls, there is a smaller waterfall that was separated from the American Falls by natural forces, named: Bridal Veil Falls. Goat Island separates the two parts of the American Falls.

The Canadian Falls are called the Horseshoe Falls and they are located on the Canadian side of the border. Their height is 52 meters and their width is 750 meters. The massive volume of water flowing through the Horseshoe Falls gives them a green color.

The average depth of the water at the base of the falls is 52 meters, equal to the depth of the river's water.

The water reaches Niagara Falls from four of the five Great Lakes. From the falls, the water flows down the Niagara River, spills into Lake Ontario, then along the St. Lawrence River and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. The elevation difference between Lake Erie (the lake closest to the falls) and Lake Ontario, where the falls empty, is 99 meters, with about half of the height difference caused by the falls themselves.

An average of approximately 2,400 cubic meters of water flows through the falls per second (and over 6,000 cubic meters per second at peak season). Over half of it is utilized for electricity production in the hydroelectric plants of the USA and Canada. Niagara Falls is currently the world's largest source of hydroelectric power generation.

The first hydroelectric plant (which was quite small and produced about 2,200 kilowatts) was established as early as 1893.

Today, several hydroelectric plants on the Canadian side produce nearly 2 million kilowatts, and two American plants produce an additional 2.4 million kilowatts, capable of powering 24 million 100-watt bulbs simultaneously!

There are no guided tours in the Canadian power stations, but there is a visitor center at one of the American plants: Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant.

The falls were formed 12,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age, but their original location was 11.2 kilometers downstream from their current position. Over the years, erosion occurred at the fall's ledge. There were years when the rate of erosion (the ledge's movement) was 1.8 meters per year!

However, today, due to control over flow intensity and the diversion of part of the water to power stations, the erosion rate has decreased significantly and is about 36 cm every ten years.

The significant erosion in the rock stems from the type of rock over which the falls flow. Although the upper layer is made of hard dolomite rocks, beneath it are soft layers of sandstone and shale. The fierce water flow cut through the soft shale and sandstone layers until the hard dolomite layer collapsed due to a lack of support. This type of erosion maintained the verticality of the wall over which the falls flow.

♦ Recommended accommodations for families in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side:

Since most of the popular tourist sites are located on the Canadian side of the falls, it is recommended to stay in the Canadian town of Niagara Falls, in order to be in the center of things and avoid frequent border crossings between the USA and Canada.

The most recommended hotel for family housing, among the many attractions in Niagara with a wonderful view of the falls is:

An even cheaper suite hotel at a 10-minute drive distance from the falls, Blue Moon Motel: Blue Moon Motel The hotel has family suites with two bedrooms and a living room suitable for housing up to 6 people.

Recommended accommodations in Niagara Falls on the American side

3-star hotel in a location close to the falls and attractions nearby. Suitable also for families. Has parking, free Wi-Fi, gym.

3-star hotel located about one kilometer from the falls, suitable also for families. Indoor pool, free parking, free Wi-Fi, gym.

4-star resort with a casino located close to the falls, rooms for 2-4 guests, indoor pool, jacuzzi, gym, restaurants, free parking and internet.

5-star hotel located close to the falls. Suitable also for families. There is parking for an extra fee, free Wi-Fi.

Recommended hotels near the Buffalo/Niagara airport

3-star suite hotel with kitchen, breakfast included, suitable also for families, free airport shuttle. Indoor pool, gym, free internet and parking.

3-star hotel, heated indoor pool, rooms suitable also for families, free airport shuttle. Free internet and parking.

3-star hotel suitable also for families, breakfast included, indoor pool, gym, free internet and parking.

Hotel search on Booking in the Niagara Falls area map:

Important milestones in the history of Niagara Falls:

1678: Franciscan monk and explorer Louis Hennepin reaches the falls. He is the first European to arrive in the area. 1846: Launch of the ship "Maid of the Mist" as a ferry between the two sides of the river. 1848: March: For the first time in recorded history, the falls dried up due to strong westerly winds that caused the water to remain in Lake Erie. Additionally, an ice jam blocked the river near Buffalo. Local residents were happy to enter the dry river section and the edge of the falls, where they found among other items souvenirs from the war that took place in the area in 1812. July: The first bridge over the Niagara River was inaugurated. 1859: Jean Francois Gravelet, known as "The Great Blondin," begins his series of tightrope walks across the Niagara River in the whirlpool area, about a kilometer and a half from the falls. His performances attract a crowd of about 25,000 people. He even carries his manager on his back during one of his performances. 1885: The park opens: Niagara Reservation State Park, attracting 750,000 visitors. This is the first state park inaugurated in the USA.

Tourism:

The falls became a tourist site in 1820 and within 50 years the number of tourists increased tenfold, and the falls became the main industry in the area. Niagara Falls is one of the most popular places in the world to spend a honeymoon. This custom began to develop in the middle of the 19th century and strengthened further in 1953 after the movie "Niagara" was filmed at the falls, starring Marilyn Monroe, who portrayed a young woman on her honeymoon in the film. During the film, her buttocks were exposed for two whole minutes as she walked towards the falls in order to see them better.

The falls are known for many famous tourist attractions, such as: sailing on the "Maid of the Mist," Skylon and Minolta towers, journey behind the falls, historic sites such as Fort George National Historic Site, many public parks, and even a large casino.

The main attractions at the falls:

Tours of Niagara Falls for booking from GetYourGuide.com:

Boat trip to the falls

The original "Maid of the Mist" boat was launched in 1846 as a ferry boat crossing the Niagara River below the falls. They transported passengers, mail, and cargo. The ship was quite bulky, but it could carry a carriage and four horses. After the first suspension bridge over the river was established in 1848, the boats began to be used as tour ships, approaching as close as possible to the falls, which continues to this day. This tourist trend flourished and prospered, and in 1854, the second ship was built. This is one of the oldest attractions in North America.

Since then, many ships have been built, and the "Maid of the Mist" is selected every year as the number one attraction of Niagara Falls. The ship has a double deck and can accommodate up to 600 passengers on each voyage. These ships used to depart from both the Canadian and American sides.

However, since 2014, the "Maid of the Mist" ship has departed only from the American side, and a new company named Hornblower won the tender for these tours from the Canadian side with modern catamaran ships that accommodate up to 700 passengers each.

Booking popular tours from Viator :

On the Canadian side:

On the American side:

The boats depart every half hour from both sides of the river. They operate from May until October. Operating hours vary according to the season. The voyage duration on the ships is about half an hour.

Upon boarding the boat you receive a long raincoat, as the voyage is a rather wetting experience, but on the new ships departing from the Canadian side, one can remain dry inside the closed deck equipped with glass windows. The boats sail to the base of the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. It is amazing to hear the falls' roar and feel the water spray on your face. One of the many journalists who sailed on it wrote: "Until you see Niagara Falls from the deck of the 'Maid of the Mist,' you don't understand the massive power of the water."

In its 155 years of existence, millions of tourists have sailed on the ship, including presidents, kings, and movie stars.

1860 - The Prince of Wales (later became King Edward VII) 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt (later President of the USA) 1949 - Prime Minister of India 1952 – Marilyn Monroe (participated in the movie Niagara) 1983 – Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau 1983 – President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev 1985 – President of China Li Xiannian 1987 – The Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson 1991 – Diana, Princess of Wales with her sons Princes William and Harry 1996 – Former US President, Jimmy Carter and his wife.

Attractions on the American side:

The best observation point on the falls from the American side is "Prospect Point" tower. A kind of rock outcrop topped by a tower that rises to a height of 85 meters above the falls. From the top of the tower is a spectacular view of all the falls and it is open year-round. (In summer: 8-23 and in winter: 10-22). Admission for a fee. Elevators descend from the tower to the gorge at water level, to the mooring of the "Maid of the Mist" ferry boats.

You can board a tour on the ship "Maid of the Mist," from the American side , from the base of the observation tower at Prospect Point . From the Canadian side, it is worth ordering the following attractions: Falls attractions on the Canadian side including an experiential boat trip to the falls:

Goat Island is located between the two falls. You can reach it via miniature trains or by walking on a bridge. Elevators lead to Cave of the Winds. Before entering the cave you receive a plastic hat and coat and special boots and you enter via underground tunnels to the falls (entry fee includes equipment use). The tunnels lead for about 200 meters to observation platforms, where you see and feel the massive falls and see the colorful rainbow formed. Other tunnels lead behind the scenes of the water curtain.

About three kilometers north of the falls is Whirlpool State Park, a 90-degree river bend with a park nearby, from which one can witness the spectacular sight of the raging and rushing water. At a distance of another 4 km is "Power Vista," a visitor instruction center in a massive power station.

Speedboat trip in the river

Order the cruise from the reliable Viator site: Niagara Falls USA Open Jet Boat Tour

A high-speed cruise experience with views in the Niagara River gorge where the falls' water flows. The ship has an open deck for those interested in a wetting experience and also a closed deck for those wishing to remain dry. The ship sails into various levels of rapids in the river and is equipped with a particularly strong engine for high speed and sharp turns. The cruise departs from Youngstown on the Niagara River, about twenty kilometers north of Niagara Falls on the American side. Voyage duration is about an hour.

Attractions on the Canadian side:

Since the Canadian side is more impressive and developed than the American side, and since all promised attractions in the itinerary are on this side, we will expand upon it.

You can see the falls from every angle and every direction: from observation towers, from caves at the base of the falls, from boats, a cable car, and from the top of the falls.

A unique experience is seeing the falls illuminated at night, as described by a visitor to Niagara already in 1940: "Seeing the falls at night is like being exceptionally awake in the kingdom of dreams." The first attempt to illuminate the falls at night was as early as 1860, even before the use of electricity, in honor of the Prince of Wales' visit. Throughout the years various techniques were used to illuminate the falls, and today 21 Xenon lamps are used to obtain the spectacular night lighting. Each Xenon lamp is equivalent to 250,000,000 candles!

Every Friday evening at 22:30 from the end of May until the end of August there are fireworks over the falls.

Cruise to the falls:

Of course, one should not miss a boat trip to the falls, which I detailed earlier.

Welland Canal

The Welland Canal was established in 1829 in order to connect Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and provide ships with a passage bypassing Niagara Falls, allowing essentially for large ships from all corners of the world to sail in the heart of the North American continent.

It is amazing to see how ships weighing 30,000 tons ascend and descend such large height differences. Yet the technology is actually quite simple. Already 150 years ago engineers discovered the trick: let gravity and water do the work. They fill and empty the locks (LOCK) using water flowing from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Water flow is controlled by opening and closing gates.

Canal length: 45 km. Over the years the canal has undergone improvements and changes, until reaching its final structure where there are eight massive locks that raise and lower ships by a total height difference of 99 meters. Even the largest ships can pass through this canal.

You can drive along the northern part of the canal on Government Road from Lake Ontario to Thorold, where the seventh "lock" is located. An excellent observation point is located at the third "lock," where an information center describing the history of the canal is also found.

Phone number for the Lock 3 tourist site and museum: 905-688-5601 extension 1999.

Floral Clock:

This is one of the symbols of the city, known for its many gardens. Built in 1950, inspired by the floral clock in Edinburgh, Scotland, it is considered one of the largest floral clocks in the world. Its diameter: 12.2 meters. The flowers in the clock are replaced twice a season. Each time, about 15,000 seedlings are planted. In the spring, violets are planted in the clock. The clock was designed, planted, and is maintained by the Niagara Parks Commission.

Near the clock, there is a lilac garden that blooms every year at the end of May.

The clock is located about 2.5 kilometers north of the Niagara Botanical Gardens.

More attractions:

Observations on the falls:

On the Canadian side there are two observation towers (admission for a fee): "Skylon" Tower and Minolta Tower. The height of the Skylon Tower is 235 meters and it is the taller of the two towers. Glass elevators reach the observation platforms, one external and one internal. At the top of the tower is a revolving restaurant with a magnificent view. Address: 5200 Robinson Street, Niagara Falls, ON.

Minolta Tower is the older one, built in 1962 but recently renovated. Its height is about 160 meters and it has an internal observation plaza and at the top of the tower a restaurant named: Pinnacle Restaurant. At the base of the tower is a shopping complex. The tower is part of the Ramada Plaza Fallsview hotel. A particularly recommended observation is from the modern Ferris wheel "Niagara SkyWheel," rising to a height of 53 meters. Since it is located on a hill (at Clifton Hill), one can overlook the American Falls, the Canadian Falls, and the Niagara River. The voyage duration on the wheel is about 12 minutes, during which you will conduct about 6 rotations. Since the travel is in closed and air-conditioned cabins, the facility is active year-round.

"Rainbow Bridge" crosses the Niagara River and separates the USA and Canada. A panoramic view of the falls is reflected from it. On sunny days a large rainbow can be seen through the falls' water spray.

From the heights of the Niagara Spanish Aero Car, a spectacular view of the Whirlpool formed from a sharp turn in the river towards the northeast is reflected. The cable car is located 4.5 km downstream from the falls. The cable car is named after the Spanish engineer who designed and built it, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, and it has been operational since 1916. The cable car travels at a height of 76 meters above the river and it is open from May to October.

More attractions

Another recommended attraction is "Journey Behind the Falls." Elevators carved in rock descend from the "Table Rock House" plaza, pass through tunnels 46 meters long to two unique observation points: one behind the Horseshoe Falls and the second alongside the falls. The price includes raincoats for protection against heavy water spray. Open year-round.

Great Gorge Adventure is another place where one can descend via elevators and tunnels to an observation plaza, from which the spectacular sight of the Whirlpool Rapids area can be seen. You can walk adjacent to the turbulent river on a 305-meter-long walkway called: Whitewater Boardwalk. The elevators are located 3.2 km downstream from the falls.

Those who haven't gotten wet enough can try sailing in a high-speed motorboat named: Whirlpool Jet, which sails in the turbulent waters of the Niagara River up to the particularly stormy whirlpool area. Here too, raincoats are provided but you get properly soaked.

A drier experience is to watch an IMAX 3D movie on a 6-story high giant screen depicting the heroic exploits of various people at the falls, disasters, and the wonders of the falls throughout history. Nearby is a small museum named: The Daredevil Adventure, featuring exhibits related to people who tried to go over the falls. Open year-round. Museum admission is included in the movie entry ticket.

A more expensive, but particularly impressive experience is a helicopter flight over the falls and the river.

In addition to the many attractions related to the falls, there are many other tourist attractions nearby and of course many shopping and amusement areas.

Clifton Hill is a colorful tourist area featuring a wealth of attractions, such as: wax museums, Ripley's Believe it or not museum presenting strange and amazing exhibits, the Guinness World Records Museum, a family amusement center named: Dazzleland, mini-golf, a haunted house, Frankenstein's House, and of course plenty of restaurants and hotels.

Niagara Falls is overflowing with well-maintained gardens. In addition to the Floral Clock, there are botanical gardens, a butterfly park, and a lovely park named Queen Victoria Park, which is free to enter and offers a great view of the falls. The gardens bloom from early spring until late autumn.

Another family attraction is: Marineland. This is a giant aquarium with marine animal shows combined with an amusement park featuring roller coasters and other facilities.

Near Niagara Falls is a lovely historic tourist town named Niagara-on-the-Lake. The town preserves 19th-century charm and has a wealth of gardens, parks, forts, and artisan workshops.

Due to its strategic location, the town played an important role in the war that took place in the area in 1812. In fact, when one hears the history of this town, they understand the history of Ontario. This town hosts an upscale performance festival annually between April and October, where plays by George Bernard Shaw and other authors are staged.

Helicopter tour over the falls

A spectacular helicopter flight experience over the falls. Departs from the Canadian side of the falls. Flight duration is about ten minutes.

Weather:

The coldest months in Niagara Falls are November to March, when the average temperature is: -6 to 4 degrees Celsius. Heavy snow falls during this period. Also, the months of April and October can be cool and rainy. The summer months, June to August, are warm with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 15 degrees at night. It should be taken into account that the falls affect local weather conditions with a "wet-bulb" effect. Even on a warm and sunny day, tourists close to the falls get quite wet from the extensive spray thrown from them and might get soaked. Therefore, outer clothing should be taken and it's especially desirable to equip oneself with a thin raincoat.