Travels Here and There

I received two postcards of the Niagara Falls. One Niagara Falls from the US side, the American Falls & Bridal Veil in New York, sent by fellow mom blogger Jessica Cassidy:

And this one, Niagara Falls from Canada side, Horseshoe Falls sent by postcrossing friend, Mary Anne Augerman:

I have always wanted to see the Niagara Falls. I have always seen movies where it is part of a scene or so, and how wet people get whenever they go there. The majestic waterfalls is located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls is actually the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York, which forms the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. With that, the falls have two direct locations where they can be reached, and that’s {17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York} and {75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Toronto}, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Kinda like our Cagayan de Oro River which actually is a boarder for Bukidnon already. To better understand, Niagara Falls is actually the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfalls (vertical height along with flow rate) in North America.

American Falls (large waterfall on the left) and Bridal Veil Falls (smaller waterfall on the right)

From the U.S. side, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil, can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park. Other features are the Prospect Point Park observation tower and a boat dock for the only vessel that can help tourists see Niagara at a nearer point, the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by walking, as well as automobile traffic by bridge above the American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator which leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. Other attractions at the Goat Island are the Three Sisters Islands, the Power Portal where a huge statue of Nikola Tesla can be seen, and a walking path allowing views of the rapids, the Niagara River, the gorge, and all of the falls. Most of these attractions are within the Niagara Falls State Park. The Niagara Scenic Trolley offers guided trips along the American Falls and around Goat Island. If one wants a panoramic and aerial views of the falls, they can take it from the Flight of Angels helium balloon ride, or by helicopter. If you are curious of the the natural and local history of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Gorge, then go to the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center. Casino goers can visit The Seneca Niagara Casino by the Seneca Indian tribe, and it occupies the former Niagara Falls Convention Center. The new hotel is the first addition to the city’s skyline since completion of the United Office Building in the twenties.

Niagara Falls is also the source of power.

Hydroelectric Power Dam at the Robert Moses Generating facility, Lewiston, New York.

On the Canadian side, Queen Victoria Park features lovely gardens as well as platforms offering spectacular views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. They also have underground walkways leading to observation rooms yielding the illusion of being inside the falls. The observation deck of the nearby Skylon Tower offers the highest overhead view of the falls, and in the opposite direction gives views as far as distant Toronto. Along with the Minolta Tower. Along the Niagara River, the Niagara River Recreational Trail runs the 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Erie to Fort George, and includes many historical sites from the War of 1812. The Whirlpool Aero Car, a cable car which takes passengers over the Niagara Whirlpool on the Canadian side. The Journey Behind the Falls is accessible by elevators from the street level entrance. This is an observation platform as well as a series of tunnels near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls. Casino goers on this side can visit  the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort which is situated in the Fallsview Tourist Area, alongside many of the area’s hotels, and Casino Niagara, which is adjacent to Clifton Hill, on Falls Avenue.

The cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.A. are connected by two international bridges, The Rainbow Bridge, just downriver from the falls, affords the closest view of the falls and is open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians and The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge which lies one mile (1.6 km) north of the Rainbow Bridge and the oldest bridge over the Niagara River. Nearby Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport were named after the waterfall.