Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls The world has been beating a path to the Buffalo Niagara region since shortly after Father Louis Hennepin became the first European to describe the "prodigious cadence of water" that is the mighty Falls in 1678. That early trickle of tourists became a steady stream after the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and a torrent when the railroad linked Western New York with points east. Today, millions of tourists from around the world continue to come by plane, train and automobile to experience the grandeur of Niagara Falls.

World-class attractions like the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds await the visitor who makes the short 20-minute drive from downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls.

You'll savor the spectacular views, the thundering roar, the delicate mists and shimmering rainbows of this true national treasure.

Take a family photo overlooking the Falls at Terrapin Point in Frederick Law Olmsted's lush, beautiful and natural Niagara Falls State Park. Amid the distractions and developments of modern life, the Park still provides a glimpse of the original splendor that awaited the first visitors to the region. This is the Falls at its best.

Step aboard the legendary Maid of the Mist and experience the power and majesty of the combined waters of four Great Lakes. You'll be ferried to the base of the Horseshoe Falls and feel the rush of the water as it pounds the rocks below. From the moment you put on your giant blue poncho you'll know you're having a one-of-a-kind experience.

Niagara Falls, Ontario - There’s a theory that it’s the ions generated by the millions of gallons of water tumbling over the Falls each hour, that make honeymoons so happy that an average of 50,000 choose to celebrate their marriages here each year. One of the first to do this was Napoleon's younger brother, Jerome Bonaparte, who honeymooned here with his American bride in 1804. The couple that actually started this trend (three years earlier) was Joseph Alston and Theodosia Burr, the daughter of future US Vice-President Aaron Burr. Photo courtesy of Niagara Falls Tourism.

There are also surprising ways to enjoy the Falls from afar. Many Niagara falls pictures are situated such that they have spectacular views-especially nice for a romantic getaway-while Niagara pictures like Skylon Tower, which rises 775 feet above the falls, offer observation decks for a very different perspective. Fun Niagara (and Other) Facts A natural phenomenon second in size only to Victoria Falls in Africa, Niagara Falls sees between four and six millions cubic feet of water go over its crest every minute. The Falls are 188 feet high, with the deepest section of the Niagara River just at their base-going down 170 feet. The rim of Horseshoe Falls measures 2200 feet across-the same height of Yosemite's famous Cathedral Spires.

Just 15 minutes north of the Falls rests an impressive array of Niagara vineyards. Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries currently number 17, many of which produce award-winning vino, including the region's famous ice wines. At a similar latitude to the Bordeaux region of France and Napa Valley, the Niagara climate is ideal.
The first person to attempt to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel was a 63-year-old woman. Seeking fame and fortune, schoolteacher Annie Taylor loaded herself - and her cat - up in a barrel and descended over the falls in 1901. She survived.
Niagara Falls received its reputation as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World" when Aaron Burr's daughter-Theodosia-chose a History of Niagara falls in 1801. She was followed up by Jerome Bonaparte-Napoleon's brother-in 1804 and, thus, a tradition was born. Now over 50,000 Niagara honeymoons are arranged each year.
In 1848, Niagara Falls actually stopped flowing for 30 hours when ice fields from Lake Erie jammed at the source of the river.
Marilyn Monroe visited the falls to film portions of the thriller Niagara Falls, released in 1953. Other notable visitors have included King George the V in 1939 and Princess Diana with her sons in 1991.
The History of Niagara falls , overlooking its namesake, occupies the record for the largest commercial development in Canada at 2.5 million square feet.