Niagara Falls are probably the biggest tourist attraction in America with total number of visitors overcoming Las Vegas or New York.
Located on the border between US and Canada river Niagara falls down from the Lake Eire to Lake Ontario with descent of over 50 m.
Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls
The Goat Island ( once a supplier of grass for these nice animals ) divides river into two parallel canals, American Falls and Horseshoe Falls on Canadian side.
American Falls are much smaller and not as attractive due to boulder stones that fallen down from Lake Eire part. The small, separate part is called Bridal Veil and features the access to some rock platform close to the water. The Horseshoe Falls drop about 53 m ( 173 feet ) and are much more impressive.
From both sides of the border steamboats ‘Maid of the Mist’ take the visitors close to the impressive steam of water since 1846.
Probably even more attractive is Journey behind the Falls, which starts from Canadian side near the Visitor Information Center. The Journey is a rock gallery located about 38 m below the river level, which enables visitors to go behind the water curtain. If one does not want to experience the Journey, there is a platform called Table Rock, which is a gallery into the hard Dolomite rock on the edge of Falls.
The best place to see the whole waterfalls is 160 m high Skylon tower with a rotating restaurant offering the splendid views during the day and the night, when the water is lit with different colours, usually the show lasts till midnight. The new Minolta Tower similar toSkylon Tower offers three observation deck with panoramic views over the falls.
In the niegbourhood of the falls there are two towns of the same name Niagara Falls. The Canadian town features the Queen Victoria Park, the Aviary and the natural reserve with Botanical Garden. The main street Cliffton Hill is filled with fast food, restaurants and the attractions like Guiness Book of World Records, House of Frankenstein, or Houdini’s Museum.
Some high-rise hotels along the river offer the marvelous views over the falls.
[photo courtesy of mindgrow]