Ever since Niagara Falls emerged from the melting glaciers of the last ice age, people have been spellbound by its magnificence. Even Charles Dickens was enthralled. "I saw two great white clouds rising up slowly from the depths of the earth," he wrote. "Niagara Falls was at once stamped upon my heart, an Image of Beauty."
Niagara Falls through History
While it's not the highest waterfall in the world (Angel Falls in Venezuela holds that distinction), more than six million cubic feet of water surge over the crest every minute,creating a combination of height and sheer volume that is breathtaking to behold. Napoleon's brother found the Falls so mesmerizing he spent his honeymoon there, as did U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr's daughter Theodosia.
More than 13 million people flock to Niagara each year for a close look at the three waterfalls that straddle the Canadian-United States border: The larger Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls, located mostly on Canada’s side of the border; the American Falls; and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls.
Thrill Seekers Brave the Falls
Some have taken “close-up” to the extreme. Daredevils have braved the Falls in a variety of contraptions for more than a century, beginning with Annie Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher who took the plunge by barrel with her cat in 1901 (she made it) to two recent attempts to go over by kayak and jet ski (they didn’t.)
In 1960, seven-year-old Roger Woodward plummeted over the Falls by accident, suffering only a slight concussion. No one else who’s gone over unintentionally has survived.
Top Ways to View Niagara Falls Up-Close
Luckily, there's no need to tumble over the Falls in a barrel to see them up-close. Here are a few ways to treasure Niagara’s natural beauty and live to tell the tale.
- Don a blue poncho and board one of the intrepid Maid of the Mist boats, which launch from both sides of the border. These boats travel to the base of Horseshoe Falls, where the thundering roar of water assaults passengers' ears as the boat inches its way through dense plumes of hissing spray.
- On the Canadian side, take a watery “Journey Behind the Falls.” Traverse a network of tunnels (or take an elevator) to portals for a backside look at the rumbling wall of water. Then head out onto the observation deck.
- Daredevils can dangle above the Niagara Whirlpool in an AeroCar.
- Or at the Cave of the Winds on the American side, follow a guide along damp wooden boardwalks for a view from the Hurricane Deck, suspended a harrowing 20 feet over the raging waters at the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
- Then, for a sweeping sky-high vista, take one of the yellow, bug-like elevators that crawl up the Skylon Tower. The view from the Konica Minolta Tower is equally impressive.
Top Niagara Falls Non-Waterfall Activities
During a Niagara Falls vacation, people rarely tire of the Falls, but there are numerous non-waterfall attractions in town if they do. The Aquarium of Niagara teems with more than 1,500 aquatic creatures, Fort Niagara State Park offers a glimpse into Niagara’s past, and the Butterfly Conservatory at the lush Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens houses 2,000 fluttering critters.
There are many ways to soak in the grandeur of Niagara. Just don’t be afraid to get up-close. Don those rain ponchos, choose a way to explore the Falls, then revel in the majesty of this amazing feat of nature.
For more information, visit Niagara Falls Tourism.
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