The History of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a popular natural attraction that exists in both the United States and Canada due to its large size. It takes about twenty minutes to reach the falls from Buffalo, New York and about ninety minutes to reach the falls from Toronto, Canada. The history of Niagara Falls is a story that begins thousands of years ago, as a result of an ice sheet called the Wisconsin glaciation. When the ice melted, the Great Lakes, Niagara River and of course the Falls were created. There are three different waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls, and they are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.

It's thought that the word Niagara comes from the Iroquois for "The Strait." In 1604, European explorer Samuel de Champlain and his group created the first written description of the Falls. Legend has it that members of de Champlain's traveling party visited the Falls then reported what they saw back to him, which he then documented in his journal. However, some people credit other men such as Father Louis Hennepin, or Reverend Paul Ragueneau with the discovery of the Falls. Regardless of who discovered Niagara Falls, tourists began flocking there in the 19th century. Even the brother of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte brought his wife to the Falls. By the middle of the century, a suspension bridge was built to allow easy passage over the Niagara River. Following both the Civil War and World War I, the Falls experienced popularity as vacation spots for families and honeymooners. To make access easier for both vehicles and pedestrians alike, the Rainbow Bridge was built.

Niagara Falls is more than just a tourist attraction, however. Since as early as 1759, people have taken advantage of the benefits of the power the Falls produce. In 1805, Peter and Augustus Porter purchased the American Falls from New York State and enlarged the original canal that was there in order to power their mill and tannery. Then in 1881, enough power was produced by the Falls to power their illumination as well as send electricity to the nearby Niagara Falls Village. Today, the Niagara Falls are still used to produce power, with large hydroelectric stations on both the New York and Canadian sides.

Preservation is another part of the history of Niagara Falls. Since the early 20th century, preservation efforts have focused on water diversion and erosion control. Thanks to the efforts of scientists and researchers from both the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is a breathtaking wonder that will continue to attract awe-struck tourists and provide power for many years to come!

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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