Despite the fact that the maximum height of Niagara Falls is significantly inferior to Victoria and Iguazu, it is no less beautiful and popular than the latter. This natural attraction is located on the border of two largest states - Canada and the United States. It is this fact that significantly influenced the fact that Niagara is almost the most popular waterfall in the world. More than 15 million tourists visit it every year.
How to get to Niagara Falls?
If you find Niagara Falls on the map, it becomes clear that you can get to it from both the United States and Canada. If you are in America, you need to get to the city of Buffalo. To do this, you can use an airplane, bus or your own car. In the latter case, it is sufficient to know the coordinates of Niagara Falls, 43°04'41 N. sh. 79°04'33″ W in order to successfully arrive on site. Of course, it is most convenient and time-saving to fly to Buffalo, but it is worthkeep in mind that this mode of transportation is also the most expensive.
You can buy a ticket for the desired bus in New York at Penn Station, this is where buses to Buffalo leave. Further, you can get to the American Niagara Falls by bus 214, and another local bus will take you to the waterfall itself. If you decide to overcome this path in your own car, then highway No. 90 and highway No. 190 will lead you to the region.
Tourists in Canada should arrive in Toronto before wondering how to get to Niagara Falls. From the central bus station of this city - Coach Terminal, with a frequency of 1, 5-2 hours, buses leave for the Canadian Niagara Falls, and you can already get to the waterfall by a local bus. You can also buy a train ticket at Union Station in Toronto, which delivers all passengers to the desired location in two hours.
Plan a train to Niagara Falls in such a way as to arrive there in the late afternoon. This is due to the fact that acquaintance with this attraction will take you at least 10 hours. In addition, arriving in the evening, you will be able to see the illumination show on the waterfalls.
Where is it better to admire the waterfall: from the USA or Canada?
Waterfalls on Niagara are located in such a way that it is impossible to observe them all at the same time. Some tourists are sure that in order to get the most pleasant experience, this natural wonder is better to contemplate from the Canadian coast, while others argue thatthat the American side allows you to get as close as possible to the cascade, thanks to which the maximum height of the Niagara Falls opens up and a stunning view of it.
However, we can say for sure that if you manage to visit the attraction on the territory of both countries, you will be able to get the most complete picture of it, as well as get a lot of unforgettable emotions. True, travelers who came to the United States on a tourist visa should pay attention to the fact that they will not be allowed into Canada with it, however, you can apply for a visa to visit Niagara right in Buffalo for no more than an hour, paying about $ 100.
Legend related to Niagara
Niagara Falls, in addition to many real stories related to its nature, the process of formation, use for practical and aesthetic purposes, also has its own very beautiful legend. According to her, once the father of a very beautiful girl named Lelavalae betrothed her to a man whom she not only did not love, but even despised.
Such circumstances led to the fact that the girl decided, in the name of her true love for another person, to sacrifice herself to the god He-No, who, as the inhabitants of those times believed, lived at the foot of the waterfall. But when Lelavalae sailed on a canoe to the abyss and was already beginning to fall down, He-No caught her and settled her with her lover in his sanctuary under a waterfall. They live there today. Was it ever or not, no one knows, but the story is certainly beautiful, especiallyshe appeals to romantic natures.
How did Niagara Falls form?
North American Niagara River, connecting two huge lakes - Ontario and Erie, at the same time forms a complex of waterfalls. In fact, there are three of them - Horseshoe, American, Veil, but they are united by a common name - Niagara Falls. Canada considers this natural landmark one of the most important in the country.
North American lakes, waterfalls and the Niagara River were formed due to the activity of the ice sheet, which moved from Eastern Canada more than 10,000 years ago, not only breaking everything in its path, but also deepening and widening the riverbeds, creating or filling lakes.
It is worth noting that the movement of rocks in this area continues today, although not so rapidly. So, over the past few centuries, Niagara Falls has moved south by 11 km. Experts say that for the last 560 years the waterfall has been moving at a speed of 1-1.5 meters per year. Recently, a complex of engineering works was carried out here, thanks to which it was possible to slow down the movement of rocks a little.
Height and width of Niagara Falls
The maximum height of the Niagara Falls is not so great if you compare it, for example, with the Venezuelan Angel, whose height is 807 m, or Victoria - 108 m. Only 53 meters. However, with regard to the width of the flow of Niagara's water, this figure is impressive - 792 m, while Angel and Victoria have 107 and 1800 meters, respectively. Already from these few figuresit becomes clear how different and at the same time unique in their own way waterfalls are.
The cascades included in the Niagara complex also differ from each other. The veil really resembles a wedding dress, together with the American Falls it has a width of 335 meters. At the same time, they are separated from each other by a tiny island of Luna. At the foot of the American Falls, huge boulders are piled up, and therefore only 21 meters of its height can be seen by tourists.
If you carefully examine the Niagara Falls on the map, you can see that the Horseshoe is separated from the two previous cascades by Goat Island. According to scientists, it appeared no more than 500 years ago. Due to the fact that there are no obstacles in the way of the Horseshoe, its strength and power exceeds those possessed by the American Falls and Veil.
A bit of history…
The first interest in Niagara Falls arose purely from a practical point of view. So, back in 1881, due to the energy generated by it, many nearby settlements were illuminated. And a little later, when they created giant underground pipelines and connected them to turbines, the waterfall was able to provide energy to the whole of Buffalo, USA. Niagara Falls is 32 km away from this city.
In 1969, the waterfall remained dry for several months. This was due to erosion, which led to a gradual change in the shape of the channel. In order to preserve this natural attraction, specialists strengthened the slopes at the top of the waterfall, and the river at that timewent in a different direction.
In addition to the fact that Niagara evokes enthusiastic looks from millions of tourists, brings great benefits to energy drinkers, it also attracts lovers of extreme sensations, many of whom subsequently destroy. The first person to survive after jumping into the waterfall was Sam Puch. This event took place in 1829. And in 1901, Annie Taylor rolled down a waterfall in a barrel and also survived.
Fascinating photos of Niagara Falls
Arriving at Niagara Falls, a photo is the first thing that all tourists strive to do here. After all, they want to take at least a piece of this beauty with them in order to be able to remember their so fascinating journey. The most beautiful landscape opens from Goat Island (it owes this name to a herd of artiodactyls that once died here). It is here that tourists manage to take some of the most fascinating photographs.
Goat Island is connected to Luna Island and the American mainland by special bridges that tourists can walk over to admire Niagara Falls. Photos are often taken in such a way that the so-called Cave of the Winds is visible behind, from where you can not only see the waterfalls well, but also feel the power and strength of a huge flow of water. It is important not to forget to wear a raincoat and waterproof shoes when going to the Cave of the Winds, as the spray of the waterfall here douses everyone from head to toe.
Types of excursions at Niagara Falls
So, thanks to the fact that you knew the coordinates of Niagara Falls, the scheduleregular buses or trains, you managed to get to the goal, but what to do next? What is the best way to see the sights so that the impressions from this are as positive as possible and remain in your memory for a long time?
There are several types of excursions offered to tourists on Niagara:
- boat trip to the waterfall, during which you can see the beginning of the "Horseshoe" and the top of the gorge;
- hot air balloon flight over Niagara. During this trip, tourists are given the opportunity to simultaneously see all three waterfalls, while their eyes are opened to the maximum height of Niagara Falls;
- journey "beyond the waterfall". It provides for the delivery of tourists to the three tunnels using a special elevator;
- visit the observation deck that juts out of the cliff on the US side, as well as the beautiful Rainbow Bridge that connects the two countries.
Whichever way you decide to view Niagara Falls, you will definitely enjoy the tour, you can be sure of it.
Tourist reviews of Niagara Falls
Due to the fact that Niagara Falls is visited by a huge number of tourists every year, there are a lot of reviews about it on various sites on the Internet. Of course, some people mention how difficult, long or expensive it was to get to this natural attraction, but all their negative emotions disappeared with the first glance at this miracle of nature.
Everyone describes their impressions in different ways, depending on the level of theiremotionality, the ability to beautifully formulate one's opinions and other features, but if we combine all these reviews into one, we can conclude that Niagara Falls (Canada and the USA) left no one indifferent.
Niagara Falls at different times of the day
During the daytime, Niagara Falls looks most mesmerizing in clear weather. Then the rays of the sun, refracted in numerous small drops of water, form seven-color rainbows. Often they are placed one inside the other, forming a stunning picture that can be observed from both Canada and the United States.
Niagara Falls at night, thanks to the illumination, also looks special. This spectacle is able to keep people near it for several hours. Niagara is illuminated by dozens of multi-colored spotlights, the total power of which is 1.5 million kW. At nightfall, they enhance the already impressive picture of the waterfall.
Niagara Falls in different seasons
The appearance of Niagara also changes depending on the season. In spring and summer, next to the boiling white curtain, juicy greenery is fragrant, in autumn the waters of the waterfall are set off by crimson colors, and in winter huge “icicles”, sparkling with diamonds, freeze over here, the size of a factory pipe.
In early spring, a formidable picture unfolds on Niagara. During this period, ice drift begins, huge ice floes, approaching the edge of the abyss, fall down and shatter with a roar.
Although Niagara Falls is located in an area where the warm season gives way to cold, with frost and snow, only once, in 1911, it was completely frozen, turning into a huge block of ice.
