Niagara Falls
 Niagara Falls is by far the most famous waterfall in North America. It has been the backdrop to many honeymoons, proposals, daredevil stunts, and even the history of the United States. If you haven't heard of this falls, it's time for you to get out and start exploring the world around you! There's lots to say about this waterfall. Click on one of the following links to jump to the section you're interested in...
The Niagara River marks the border between New York, USA and Ontario, Canada. The American and Bridal Veil Falls lies on the American side while the Horseshoe Falls is considered Canadian even though the political boundary splits the falls. But regardless of which country you're in, the falls are easily experienced from both sides. The falls contributes a large amount of hydroelectric power to the power grid in the Eastern US and Canada. In fact, there's a statue of Nikola Tesla at the falls, who was the first to successfully turn the energy of falling water from Niagara Falls into electricity that was distributed for private and industrial use. Though hydroelectricity has been controversial in terms of the environment (and especially a bane for waterfalling), there's no denying the critical role it has played in allowing certain cities (and even whole economies) to be built up and thrive. The human intervention has also meant the flow of the Niagara River is regulated in a way that actually slows down the erosion of the falls and keeps the flow constant nearly year round (except for the coldest of winters when the river and falls are frozen over). These waterfalls have been a tourist attraction since America's early years (the mid 1800s). So it's not surprising that over the next 150 years the attraction has become heavily commercialized. This means that you can experience the falls in numerous ways but you can expect to treat each waterfall "excursion" like an amusement park or carnival ride where you pay to do a particular experience and move on to the next if you're so inclined. You can read about these excursions here. There are pleasant walks on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls which are free (outside parking fees). They're pleasant strolls allowing you to take in the scenery at your own leisure. And if that wasn't enough, you can also see the falls at night as they're floodlit with varying colors until midnight. No doubt about it. The falls can be experienced and seen in countless ways. See the photos below for a sampling of how we've experienced Niagara Falls.
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Looking down at Horseshoe Falls' brink dwarfing the people around it
Looking down at people by the base of Horseshoe Falls as part of the Journey Behind the Falls tour
Bridal Veil Falls and rainbow with people on the Cave of the Winds Tour
Comprehensive look at both the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side
View of Horseshoe Falls from Terrapin Point on the American Side
Profile view of American Falls towards Rainbow Bridge from the American Side
Looking down at both American Falls and Horseshoe Falls from the Observation Deck
Looking down at Niagara Falls being floodlit at night
Looking down at American Falls from a Canadian hotel
Looking downstream at American Falls and the Rainbow Bridge from the Canadian side
Horseshoe Falls
American Falls
Floodlit Horseshoe Falls
Floodlit American Falls
Viewers of Horseshoe Falls from Terrapin Point on the American side
Horseshoe Falls from the American side
The brink of American Falls
Non-observation-deck view of American and Horseshoe Falls
Walkers dwarfed by American Falls
Full rainbow as seen near Horseshoe Falls
The catwalk beneath Bridal Veil Falls
In-your-face view of American Falls
In-your-face view of the torrent of Horseshoe Falls
Behind Horseshoe Falls
