Niagara falls at dawn.....
We have all heard of them....but the sight and sound doesn't disappoint. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet of water falls over them every minute in high flow and almost 4 million cubic feet on average. Twenty percent of the world's fresh water lies in the Great Lakes and most flows over Niagara Falls. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America. There are three sections. The biggest, the Horseshoe Falls are mainly on the Canadian side. The American Falls are split into two. The smaller one is called the Bridal Veil Falls.
Niagara falls at dawn.....
...from our hotel bedroom on the top floor of the Sheraton. Not the place to be if there was a fire....but the view.....We decided to.....splash out here.
The Hotels with the best view are probably the Sheraton and the Marriott on the Canadian side of the falls. Looking across the Horseshoe Falls to the American side. The American Falls and Rainbow Bridge to the left.
The Niagara River flowing from Lake Erie over the falls .......
........and on to Niagara on the Lake and into Lake Ontario.
Town of Niagara.
From the falls viewpoint looking back at the Sheraton and the Marriott......
...and along the walkway towards the Skylon Tower.
The main viewpoint area for the Horseshoe Falls......
The Maids of the Mist on their regular trips - one each from the American and Canadian sides.....
You can enjoy a closer look at the falls from a completely different perspective by visiting The Journey Behind The Falls attraction. The observation platform at the base of the falls is easily reached by elevators and a network of tunnels........
......two other tunnels provide a close-up view of the Falls from behind. The tunnels extend only 150 feet behind the waterfall so there is not a lot of walking and you can explore it all at your leisure......
........the excursion is completely self-guided.........
......and very wet and noisy......
...but wow.....
Niagara Falls most famous and infamous stunt attempts can be seen at the Daredevil Museum on the New York side of the border. This free museum chronicles the sometimes deadly, sometimes heroic feats that have been attempted at Niagara Falls and includes some unusual creations. Photos, descriptions and artifacts of stunts, including the first successful barrel attempt by schoolteacher Annie Taylor in 1901.....
The queue for the Lady of the Mist.
Approaching the American Falls........Bridal Veil Falls on the right......
The walkway underneath Bridal Veil Falls.......
...if it was in the UK there would be a notice...Steps may be Wet....
Approaching the Horseshoe, the old Power Station building to the right on the Canadian side......
...and Terrapin Point on the American side.
Getting very noisy......
....and very wet......
...hope the camera is heavy showerproof.
Further down the River Niagara is the Whirlpool .....
......and it's Aero Car.
Matthew Web drowned attempting to swim the rapids here. He was the first person to swim the English Channel from England to France and smokers of a certain age will remember that he was pictured on Pilot Match Boxes.
The tacky town of Niagara....
.......Blackpool on the Falls.
And in contrast - Niagara on the Lake situated on the outflow of the Niagara into Lake Ontario......
The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory......Blue Morpho Butterflies at feeding time.......
....only when they open their wings does the name fit.
An Orange Julia.
From the American side looking over the American Falls....
Back at the Sheraton, late evening.....
......and the falls at night.