Visiting Canada
Winter Harbor Marina
Yesterday we visited the eastern end of Lake Ontario and the
St. Lawrence River. Today we drove to Niagara Falls, which is close to the western
end of Lake Ontario. We decided we'd spend the day visiting the American side
and view the falls from the Canadian side tomorrow. We found a place to park
very close to the official visitors center at Niagara Falls State Park. I say
official because there are lots of tourist traps that say they are visitor centers.
The falls are amazing, awe inspiring even and the park is a great place, but
the area outside the park is full of businesses trying to convince you to spend
a small fortune to see the falls. The falls are the main attraction and they
are free to view. There are many viewing areas in the park that let you stand
right next to the edge where the water rushes over the cliffs. The sound of the
roaring water is all you can hear. When you stand and look at the falls and see
the amount of water that flows over them, it's hard to believe this has been
going on for thousands of years. The American Falls began forming about 900
years ago as the Horseshoe Falls continued to erode the Niagara River Gorge in
the southward direction. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls separated
from Horseshoe Falls at Goat Island about 700 years ago. Only 10% of the water
from the upper Niagara River flows over the American Falls and Bridal Veil
Falls.
We took the Maid of
the Mist boat ride, which is a boat tour of Niagara Falls. The boat starts
off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge, and takes its
passengers past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of
spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls.
The first Maid of the Mist was launched in 1846 as a ferry service between the
Canadian and American sides, pre-dating by two years the construction of the
first Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge at the site. However, with the opening of
the suspension bridge, the ferry service lost business, and by 1854, became a
tourist attraction.
After viewing the falls we drove into Canada and along the
Niagara River to Niagara on the Lake, which is located in Southern Ontario
where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. It’s a beautiful little town full
of great little shops, B&Bs and restaurants. It would make a wonderful romantic
weekend getaway. We did look at staying at a B&B, but decided we’d drive
back to Niagara Falls and stay closer to the falls…we want to see the view from
Canada side in the morning.
View of the falls from the Observation Tower
Maid of the Mist going towards Horseshoe Falls
Looking at American Falls from the deck of Maid of the Mist
The top of American Falls
Looking back to the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
Maid of the Mist getting close to Horseshoe Falls
Queens Street in Niagara on the Lake
Video of Niagara Falls
