Did you know that Niagara Falls is the most visited natural landmark in New York State? Being there in person, I can see why. Have you ever looked into the eyes of raw uncontrolled power, just to realize how small and insignificant you really are? That’s exactly what happened to me on my trip to Niagara Falls, NY.
I was very young when I was last there, and my memories were mostly based on photographs my mom took at the time. This was Ros's first time, so I was excited to share that experience with him. It took about six hours to reach Niagara Falls from New York City, so we took turns driving to help carry the load. We spent most of the drive singing along with the radio and sharing stories of our childhood as we passed towns with names we had connections to; from college trips we had gone on, to people we associated certain places with.
When we finally arrived at Niagara, Ros made a comment that stumped me. He pointed out that Niagara the town itself seemed really run down, or at least it felt like a small town that we crossed through on our previous road trips that remained nameless. Considering how much money and tourism comes through the city, I wonder how the city uses the money to improve its home site. Obviously, the money doesn't go to the people that live there, but I would be curious about how the money is used. Street fixtures, building projects, etc.
Anyways, once we arrived, a huge mist cloud could be seen in the distance and I knew immediately that the waterfall was just beyond the tree line. We went straight for the largest one first. Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. This also happens to be the order from largest to smallest. During our time at the park, we learned a lot about Niagara Falls that we felt would be awesome to share with you all.
The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, has the fastest running water in the world! 700,000 gallons of water falls per second. I can't even compute how much water that is. Makes you wonder where all that water is coming from, and the answer is Lake Erie. Due to erosion, the falls slowly move up the river towards Lake Erie, and in the last 12,000 years, they have moved 7 miles upstream. Will they eventually disappear? Yes, but that won't happen for another 23,000 years approximately, so you have time to plan a trip and see them! Did you also know that Niagara was the second largest waterfall in the world?
When we took the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour, we had the opportunity of getting really close to Horseshoe Falls. You could feel the power of the waters rocking the boat. I gripped the rails; fear and awe were fighting to be the dominant emotion coursing through my veins. I knew I was safe but I couldn't fight the instinct that told me I was in danger. I felt so small and it is something I won't be forgetting any time soon. I managed to record some good shots to make sure you watch this trip on RosAdventures when it comes out on YouTube!
With so much power in the water, there actually is a hydro plant that collects the energy produced by the falls. It powers about 1/4 of the state of New York, and the province of Ontario. That's a lot of energy. Apparently they control the flow of the water. They let it run a full power during the day so that tourists can see the water flowing at full throttle. Then at night, they constrict the flow and use the hydro plant to produce and store energy. That's an amazing way to use nature without harming it.
Another site we explored was their "Cave of the Winds" attraction. We paid a little over $20 per person without even knowing what we were signing up for. When we came here we had agreed to try everything and make the most of our trip. They called for our time slot and we stepped into an elevator that took us down into the bedrock, spitting us out at a tunnel.
The floor was wet and we knew we were in for a treat. After leaving the tunnel, we realized we were on a cliffside, right next to the Bridal Veil and American Falls. We were handed rain ponchos which we quickly slipped over our clothes. Following the paths, we met wooden stairs that allowed us to get up and personal with the water. You could almost reach out and touch the powerful waterfalls. Sadly Ros wasn't wearing the right shoes for the occasion, despite that, we enjoyed it so much. The mist that would hit us was super refreshing and the experience as a whole is magical. It's not every day you can get so close to a waterfall.
For anyone visiting New York, this really is a place worth making the trip to. Due to the borders being close, thanks COVID-19... we weren't able to see the other perspective of the falls from the Canadian side, which is always recommended. They have multiple restaurants and their own boat tours that give you different views to admire the falls. Another really cool feature if you visit, happens at night. Once it gets dark enough, they actually project light onto the water from the Canadian side, creating a color show. They have been doing this for decades and honestly, I don't think it could ever get old.
I really loved this trip, although I have been told that I need to go back during the winter. Apparently, the waters will freeze but not enough to stop the flow of the water, which creates breathtaking views of the falls. Hopefully, by then I can see them from the Canadian side too!
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