Guide to Niagara Falls Atractions for Tourists
More About Niagara: More Attractions on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls are two enormous waterfalls in the
Niagara River, which straddles the border between the
state of New York in the US and Ontario in Canada.
The American falls are on the American side of the
border, and they make up only 10% of all the water in
the Niagara Falls. They are 55 metres high and 330
metres wide. To the right of these falls is a smaller
waterfall, separated from the others by the forces of
nature, called Bridal Veil Falls. Goat Island separates
the two parts of the American falls.
The Canadian Niagara Falls, located on the Canadian side of the border, are also called the Horseshoe Falls, as that is their shape. They are 52 metres tall and 750 metres wide. The huge mass of water flowing through them gives the waterfalls a greenish hue. The average depth of the water in the river below the waterfalls is 52 metres.
The sources
of the Niagara Falls are four of the five Great Lakes.
From the waterfalls, the water flows down the Niagara
River, pour into Lake Ontario, then through St. Lawrence
River into the Atlantic Ocean. The height difference
between Lake Erie (which is closest to the waterfalls)
and Lake Ontario is 99 metres. Roughly half of this
height difference is made up by the waterfalls.
Originally, 6060 cubic metres of water (2.09 trillion
litres) flowed in the waterfalls every hour, but today
half of this amount is redirected to hydroelectric power
plants in the U.S. and Canada. The Niagara falls are the
largest source of hydroelectricity in the world today.
There are no tours available in the Canadian power
plants but there is a visitor centre in one of the
American power plants – the Robert Moses Niagara power
Plant.
The waterfalls were created 12,000 years ago
at the end of the last ice age, but their original
location was 11.2 kilometres down the river from where
they are today. The waterfalls slowly moved up the river
due to erosion of rocks by the water. There were times
in which the waterfalls moved 1.8 metres a year! Today,
because of the redirection of some of the water and
control over its flow, the erosion is much slower –
about 36 centimetres every ten years.
The erosion was
so significant due to the type of rocks over which the
waterfalls flow. The upper layer is made of tough
dolomite rock, but underneath it are softer layers made
of sandstone and shells. The rough waters cut through
the softer layers until the tough upper layer collapsed
from lack of support. This erosion also assisted in
keeping the wall of the waterfall vertical.
Recommended Hotels at the Canadian side of the falls:
The best hotel for families with great view of the Niagara falls and among many attractions:
Embassy Suites Niagara Falls - Fallsview
This is a 4 star suites hotel for up to 6 persons in
each suite.
Near to this hotel, another one which also have a view
to the falls from most of his rooms:
Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview
4 star hotel with indoor pool with a waterslide, hot tub, sauna , gym.
More cheap hotel located less than one block from the
attractions and restaurants of Clifton Hill:
Days Inn & Suites - Niagara Falls, Center St., By the
Fall
Rooms include refrigerators and coffeemakers. Free wireless high-speed internet access. Fitness centre, indoor pool.
And even more cheap suites hotel located 10 min drive from the falls:
Family suites which can accommodate up to 6 persons.
Important points in the history of the Niagara Falls:
· 1678 – The Catholic priest and explorer Louis Hennepin
arrived at the falls. He was the first European man to
discover them.
· 1846 – Maiden voyage of the Maid of
the Mist as a ferry between the two banks of the river.
· 1848 – In March, the waterfalls dried up for the first
time in recorded history due to strong western winds
which forced the water to remain in Lake Erie. A
build-up of ice also blocked the river near Buffalo. The
people of the area were happy to go into the dried-up
river and the edge of the waterfalls, where they found,
among other things, remnants from the war that took
place in the area in 1812. In July, the first bridge
over the Niagara River was completed.
· 1859 – Jean
Francois Gravelet began his shows of crossing the river
via tightrope walking over a whirlpool-ridden area of
the Niagara, 1.5 kilometres from the falls. His shows
attracted a crowd of 25,000 people. In one show he even
carried his impresario on his back.
· 1885 – Niagara
Reservation State Park was opened, attracting 750,000
visitors. It was the first state park in the U.S.
Tourism:
The waterfalls became a tourist site in
1820. Within 50 years, the number of tourists was ten
times larger than it had been originally and tourism in
the waterfalls turned into the main industry in the
area. The falls are one of the most popular honeymoon
destinations in the world. This began in mid-19 century
and grew stronger in 1953 after the movie Niagara
(filmed at the Falls, of course) was released, starring
Marilyn Monroe as a newlywed on her honeymoon. During
the movie her bottom was exposed for two whole minutes
as she approached the falls to get a better look at
them. Superman III was also filmed at the Niagara Falls.
The falls are known for having many tourist attractions,
such as the Maid of the Mist ferry, the Skylon and
Minolta towers, a walk behind the waterfalls, Historic
sites such as Fort George National Historic Site, many
parks and even a large casino.
Main attractions at Niagara Falls:
On the American Side:
The best
viewpoint overlooking the waterfalls from the American
side is Prospect Point tower. Sitting on a high rock,
the tower rises up 85 metres above the waterfalls. From
the top of the tower you can see a breathtaking view of
all the waterfalls. You can go up the tower (for an
entry fee) all year round. From the tower there are
elevators which go down to water-level, to where the
Maid of the Mist ferries are anchored (more on this
later).
Between the two waterfalls stands Goat
Island. You can get there by a mini-train or by foot
across a bridge. Elevators lead to the Cave of the Wind.
You will receive a hat, a plastic raincoat and special
boots and enter underground tunnels which will take you
to the waterfalls (Equipment use is covered by your
entry fee). From this view point you can see and
experience the waterfalls’ might and see the beautiful
rainbow they create. Other tunnels lead you behind the
waterfalls.
Roughly three kilometres north of the
waterfalls is Whirlpool State Park, a 90-degree bend in
the river where you can see the spectacle of the raging
river waters. Another four kilometres away is Power
Vista, a visitor centre at an enormous power station.
On the Canadian side:
Because the Canadian side
is more impressive and developed than the American side
of the falls, I will expand on it more.
You can see
the waterfalls from every direction and angle: from the
tops of towers, from caves at the bottom of the
waterfall, from boats, from a cable car, and from the
top of the waterfalls themselves.
A
once-in-a-lifetime experience is seeing the waterfalls
lit up at night, as one visitor described in as early as
1940: “Seeing the waterfalls at night is like being
particularly awake in the kingdom of dreams.” The first
attempt to light up the waterfalls at night was in 1860,
even before the invention of electricity, for the
arrival of the Prince of Wales. Many different
techniques were used over the years to light up the
falls. Today, 21 Xenon lights are used to create the
amazing nighttime scene. Each of these lights is equal
to 250,000,000 candles!
Every Friday evening at
10:30PM from late May to late August there are fireworks
over the waterfalls.
The Maid of the Mist:
The original Maid of the Mist was launched in 1846 as a
ferry crossing the Niagara river just below the
waterfalls. It transported passengers, mail, and cargo.
The boat was pretty awkward, but it could transfer a
carriage with four horses. After the first hanging
bridge was built over the waterfalls in 1848, the boats
were used as tourist attractions, coming as close as
possible to the waterfalls – this is what they do to
this day. This attraction did very well, so a second
boat was built in 1854. This is one of the oldest
attractions in North America.
Since then, 11 boats
have been built and the Maid of the Mist is selected
every year as the top attraction of Niagara Falls. The
newest boat was built in 1997. It has double the deck
and can contain as many as 600 passengers at a time.
You can also board the ferries from either American
side, at the base of Prospect Point tower, or the
Canadian side, at the Maid of the mist plaza near
Clifton Hill. The ferries arrive every 15 minutes at
either side of the river. They are active between the
4th of May and the 24th of October. Activity hours
change according to season. The boat ride is 30 minutes
long. As you board the boat you will receive a long
plastic raincoat, as the ride is a rather wet
experience.
The boat goes to the base of the American waterfall and the Canadian Horseshoe waterfall. It is incredible to hear the thundering sound of the water and feel its spray on your face. One of the many journalists who have been aboard the Maid wrote that “Until you see the Niagara Falls from the deck of the Maid of the Mist, you cannot grasp the incredible force of the water.
In its 155-year history, the Maid has
carried millions of people, including presidents, kings,
and movie stars.
Gallery of VIPs who have been
aboard the Maid of the Mist over the years:
· 1860 –
The Prince of Wales (Who later became King Edward the
7th)
· 1901 – Theodore Roosevelt (Later to become
President of the US)
· 1949 – Prime Minister of India
· 1952 – Marilyn Monroe
· 1983 – Pierre Trudeat,
Prime Minister of Canada
· 1983 – Mikhail Gorbachev ,
President of the Soviet Union
· 1985 – Li Xiannian,
President of China
· 1987 – The Duke and Duchess of
York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
· 1991 –
Diana, Princess of Wales and her two sons, Princes
William and Harry
· 1996 – Former US President Jimmy
Carter and his wife
Welland Canal:
Welland canal
was built in 1829 in order to connect Lake Erie with
Lake Ontario and allow ships to avoid the Niagara Falls.
The passage lets big ships from all over the world sail
through the North American continent. It’s incredible to
see 30,000-ton ships going up and down such great
differences in height. But actually, the technology is
rather simple. 150 years ago engineers already
discovered the trick: Let gravity and water do the work.
Locks are filled and emptied of water flowing from Lake
Erie to Lake Ontario. The water flow is controlled by
the opening and closing of gates.
The canal is 45
kilometres long. Over the years it has gone through
changes and improvements until it reached its current
structure of eight huge locks which can raise and lower
ships through a total height difference of 99 metres.
Even the biggest ships can pass through this canal.
You can drive along the northern part of the canal
through Government Street from Lake Ontario to Thorold,
where the seventh lock is. There is an excellent
viewpoint at the third lock, where there is also a
visitor centre describing the history of the canal.
Along the canal are orchards and vineyards.
The Floral Clock:
This is one of the symbols of the area, which is known for its many flower gardens. It was built in 1950, inspired by the floral clock in Edinburgh, Scotland. 12.2 metres in diameter, it is one of the largest floral clocks in the world. The flowers of the clock are changed twice every season. Every time, around 15,000 seedlings are planted. In the spring, the clock features violets. The clock was planned and is maintained by the Niagara Park Commission.
Near the clock there is a lilac garden which blooms every year in late May. The clock is located 2.5 kilometres north of the Niagara Botanical Gardens.
Other Attractions:
On the Canadian side of the falls are
two viewing towers: Skylon Tower and Minolta Tower. The
taller of the two, Skylon Tower, is 235 metres tall.
Visitors reach the viewing decks, an inner one and an
outer one, via glass elevators. At the top of the tower
is a revolving restaurant from which you can see the
beautiful view while you dine. Minolta Tower is the
older of the two towers, built in 1962 but been recently
reconstructed. It is 160 metres tall and has a big
indoor viewing deck. At the top of the tower is a
restaurant called Pinnacle Restaurant. There is a
shopping complex at the bottom of the tower. Both towers
require an entry fee.
Rainbow Bridge crosses the
Niagara River, bridging the US and Canada. You can see a
beautiful panoramic view of the waterfalls from it. On
sunny days you can also see a great rainbow above the
waterfalls, created by the sprays of water.
From within the Niagara Spanish Aero Car you can see a smashing view of the whirlpools created by a sharp bend in the river. The aero car is located 4.5 kilometres down the river from the waterfalls. It is named after the Spanish engineer who designed it, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo, and has been running since 1916. The aero car operates 76 metres above the river. It is open between May and October.
Another recommended attraction
is Journey Behind the Falls. You go down elevators in
Table Rock House and go through 46 metre tunnels to two
special view points: One behind the Horseshoe Falls, the
other to their side. Admission price includes plastic
raincoats to protect you from the strong spray of water.
Open every day of the year.
The Great Gorge
Adventure is another place where you can go down
elevators and tunnels to a viewing deck from which you
can see the Whirlpool Rapids. You can walk along the
river on the 304-metre long Whitewater Boardwalk. The
elevators are 3.2 kilometres down the river from the
waterfalls.
If you want to get wetter still, you can
go on a speedy jetboat called Whirlpool Jet which sails
the stormy waters of the Niagara River up to the
particularly stormy Whirlpool Rapids area. You will get
a raincoat here as well but you will end up very wet
nonetheless.
A drier experience is a 3D IMAX
movie on a giant 6-storey-high screen, which tells of
the disasters, wonders, and adventures of different
people in the Niagara Falls over the course of history.
Nearby is a small museum called The Daredevil museum,
which displays exhibits related to people who have tried
to cross the waterfalls over the years. Open every day
of the year. The fee for the IMAX covers entry to the
museum as well.
A more expensive but extremely
impressive experience is flying in a helicopter over the
river and the falls.
Besides the many attractions
relating to the waterfalls, there are other tourist
attractions in the area as well as many shopping and
entertainment centres. Clifton Hill is a colourful
tourist area with many attractions, such as wax museums,
a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, the Guinness Book
of Records museum, a family entertainment centre called
Dazzleland, mini golf, a haunted house, Frankenstein’s
house, and of course, a lot of restaurants and hotels.
Niagara Falls is full of beautiful gardens. Besides the
flower clock, it has botanical gardens, a butterfly
park, and Queen Victoria park, which is free to enter
and has a beautiful view of the waterfalls. The gardens
bloom from the beginning of spring to the end of fall.
Another family attraction is Marineland, a giant
aquarium with marine animal shows combined with an
amusement park with roller coasters and other rides.
Near Niagara Falls is a charming historic town called
Niagara on the Lake. The town has kept its 19th-century
charm. It has many gardens, parks, fortresses and artist
workshops. Because of its strategic location, the town
played an important role in the war of 1812. In fact,
when you hear the story of this town, you understand
Ontario’s history. Every year between April and October
the town holds a theatre festival in which plays by
George Bernard Shaw and others are performed.
Weather:
The coldest months in Niagara are November
to March, in which the average temperature is -6°C to
4°C. There’s a lot of snow fall in this season. April
and October can also be cold and rainy. The summer
months, June through August, are warm, with temperatures
of about 25°C during the day and 15°C during the night.
Take into consideration that the waterfalls affect the
weather conditions of the place. Even on a warm and
sunny day, tourists near the waterfalls get quite wet
from the spray. Hence, you should pack along some warm
clothes, but most importantly, bring a thin raincoat.
More About Niagara: More Attractions on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls