The pull of Niagara Falls

On a recent visit to Canada, HELLEN MISEDA toured the breath-taking misty Niagara Falls, the second largest cascade in the world —it is a massive spectacle

If you are a tourist to Kenya, they say it’s an offence to come all the way and go back without touring the Coast or Masai Mara. Likewise, if you visit Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls — North America’s oldest tourist attraction — is a must-see for every tourist. Niagara Falls is the second largest cascade in the world, next only to southern Africa’s Victoria Falls.

Foolish me for my love of sleep, I missed that once-in-a-lifetime chance in 2006 when I toured Ontario to cover the XVI International Aids Conference.

We were to meet at the lobby at an ungodly hour (5 am) to head there, but sleep was too sweet, I missed the Niagara bus.

When I told my friends back home what happened, they rebuked me, “How could you go all the way to Canada to sleep? How foolish!”

Well, in life there is always a second chance and for me, another opportunity presented itself this year thanks to the Canadian High Commission.

This time round I never missed the bus.

Under the leadership of Charity Kabaya, the assistant trade commissioner at the Canadian High Commission, we (a team of journalists  and International schools teachers from East African Community) booked our tickets from the Union Train Station in Toronto at 10 am.

Toronto is almost one hour forty-five minutes away from Niagara Falls.

The journey started with a one-hour ride in the Toronto-Niagara Falls train then we swopped to the Niagara bound bus for another 45-minute ride to the site.

If you want a cheap deal — if you are coming from Toronto to Niagara Falls — the bus and train connection is a better option as opposed to using a cab.

The bus drops tourists off just a kilometre away from the heavenly site.

Canadians know how to capitalise on a tourist site, and this is evident with the jamboree of activity leading to the breathtaking gem.

From the adrenaline-rushing fanfares that leave children super-entertained, to eclectic restaurants, world-class hotels serving tantalising cuisines, exciting nightlife, the Niagara Falls is a vacation paradise.

Adults are spoilt for choice with the array of golf courses, spas and wine country is just down the road.

For children, Niagara Falls is a veritable theme park with ultra tall buildings, water parks inside hotels and kid-friendly restaurants, and some education tours like the Butterfly Conservatory and Marineland.

As you approach the falls, you don’t need to be told, the fresh misty aroma and the whooping water are enough to let you know, in front lies a sight to behold!

When you first set eyes on this gorgeous wonder words will fail you. Even a hardcore atheist will be forced to believe there’s a mighty deity behind this  sight.

Known in the past as the premiere honeymoon destination, this geological wonder is not only one of most popular tourist attractions in the world, but also functions as one of the major power providers to the governments of Canada and the USA.

So what makes up this wonder?

Niagara Falls consists of two waterfalls on the Niagara River, which marks the border between New York and Ontario, Canada: the American Falls, located on the American side of the border, and the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls located on the Canadian side.

To the right of the American Falls is a smaller waterfall that has been separated from the American Falls by natural forces known as the Bridal Veil Falls.

History of Niagara

The falls were formed 12,000 years ago when glaciers receded at the end of the last ice age, and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.

When the falls were formed, the edge of the falls was as much as seven miles further down river than it is today.

Until the 1950s, when the flow of water began to be controlled, the brink of the falls moved backward an estimated three feet every year because of erosion.

The water that runs over the falls comes from the Great Lakes.

And the origin of the exotic name? Many are bound to wonder. 

Well, there are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the falls.

 According to Iroquoian scholar Bruce Trigger, ‘Niagara’ is derived from the name given to a branch of the locally residing native Neutral Confederacy, who are described as being called the ‘Niagagarega’ people on several late 17th century French maps of the area.

According to George Stewart, it comes from the name of an Iroquois town called ‘Ongniaahra’, meaning ‘point of land cut in two’.

Tourists’ Mecca

Due to its awesomeness, Niagara Falls is a tourist Mecca for more than 12 million tourists from all over the world, who tour the site every summer.

From the Maid of the Mist to Journey Behind the Falls, there are plenty of ways to experience this great wonder. We got a chance to do Journey Behind the falls and the Maid of the Mist, which are the most popular with tourists.

Journey Behind the falls is a 45-minute self-guided tunnel tour that gives close-up view of the falls from behind. The attraction is located just beside the Horseshoe Falls in the Table Rock. 

At the base of the falls, visitors have the observation platforms, which can be reached by elevators and a network of tunnels. Before the tour, visitors are given a blue rain poncho to keep them protected from the mist of the falls.

The tour costs 14.95 dollars (Sh1,200) for adults (aged 13+), and children 9.95 dollars (Sh800) between six and 12, children under five enter free.

On the other hand, the Maid of the Mist is an upclose and personal half an hour boat tour of Niagara Falls.

The tour is available starting from either the Canadian or American side of the river, depending on which country you are touring.

As you do the ‘Maid of the Mist Tour’, water rushes all around as you ‘soak’ in the excitement. 

The tour costs 19.75 dollars (Sh1,600) for adults and 12.65 dollars (Sh1,000) for children, while for minors under five, it’s free.

A fascinating detail is that Niagara Parks has operated without tax dollars since 1885 and every dollar helps preserve the nature and heritage of the Falls. 

Niagara movies

The Niagara wonder has not only captured tourists and honeymooners, but also moviemakers.

The 1953 film Niagara starred Marilyn Monroe as a honeymooner with a wandering eye.

The film marked Monroe’s explosion as a film phenomenon —perhaps because the film features a full two minutes of Monroe’s soon-to-be-famous backside as she walks toward the falls for a better view.

Niagara miracle

Movies aside, there are so many fascinating daredevil stories about Niagara Falls but perhaps one of the most miraculous stories ever told took place on July 9, 1960.

Known as the Miracle at Niagara, the story goes that on that Saturday afternoon, a man from Niagara Falls, New York took two children for a boat ride in the upper Niagara River.

 Along the way, the boat developed mechanical problems, capsized and all three were thrown into the upper rapids. Sadly, the man drowned but his two children survived miraculously. His 17-year-old girl was plucked 6metre (20ft) from the edge of the falls and her seven-year-old brother — Roger Woodward — went over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

Luckily, one of the scenic Maid of the Mist boats was just making its turn below the falls when one of the crew spotted the bright orange life jacket and he was rescued.

His story is posted on one of the underground tunnels that lead to the walls behind the falls tour.

Being such a phenomena, Niagara has so many interesting facets; if I were to capture everything, I would need thousands of pages. But in a drop, Niagara is simply heavenly!