Niagara Falls

An aerial view of Niagara Falls in the winter. Niagara, ON
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Absolutely breath taking...

That's Niagara Falls for me... in a nutshell. First time I saw it, I was totally awed. Thousands of gallons of water pouring down the gorge... the thunderous sound of water as it reaches the bottom... the blanket of white mist as vapors are carried by the strong winds... beauty and power combined. As I beheld one of the Seven Wonders of the Word, I was reminded about its Creator: the God who is both strong and beautiful. I read somewhere that God reveals His character in nature. He certainly did with Niagara Falls.

Absolutely breathtaking...

I dunno what type of plane this is. But it sure is nice flying around in it. This is one of the planes that take visitors like me on aerial tour of Niagara Falls and its neighbouring areas. Niagara, ON.
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Niagara Falls actually represents three falls – the American Falls, Bridal Veil, and the Horseshoe Falls. The last one is the most popular and photographed one, in my opinion. It is the widest and most dramatic of the three at 2600 ft in length. About 600,000 gallons of water per second drop at the height of 167 ft. The falls is so powerful that man was not able to completely control it. Even the worst of winters was not enough to freeze it. The water velocity was too great for the ice to settle. All the other falls I’ve seen so far is nothing compared to Niagara. They all look like Niagara's pee.

Niagara Falls. A view from the ground. :D Niagara, ON.
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I totally agree with the brochure that says, “It was just as well you were speechless. No one could hear you over the roar!” I didn’t attempt to speak though. I thought I’d save it for my travel blog.

I’ve seen Niagara from different angles. Up close when I took the Maid of the Mist boat tour. Well, honestly, I couldn’t stare at it from this angle. Water and mist carried by the strong winds made it impossible for me to open my eyes. And then I had the serious job of keeping my clothes dry to think about. Add to that the important mission of documenting the whole experience, without getting my camera wet. So, if you want to go on board the Maid of the Mist, be sure to bring a change of clothes, goggles, and an extra camera (in case the first one won’t work anymore after getting soaked :D)

Journey Behind the Falls takes you to the tunnels about 140 ft below the surface, like this one. Niagara, ON.
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Niagara’s view from above is equally breath taking. I’ve seen the aerial view during the winter. A good friend and travel buddy, Christian, invited me to go in one of those small tour planes operating in Niagara-along-the-Lake. It was about a 25-minute ride that showed us the not-oft-seen side of Niagara Falls: the aerial view in winter. Niagara, all white; big chunks of ice at the bottom, yet the water maintained its strength.

Some people argue about which side is more beautiful: the Canadian or American side? I’ve seen both, and I say each side has its own unique beauty. The park along the Canadian side gives the over-all view of Niagara Falls. The Horsheshoe falls is closer, and there are a lot of ways to explore it: there’s the Maid of the Mist boat tour, Journey Behind the Falls, and White Water Walk. The American side, on the other hand, gives a closer view of the two smaller falls: the American Falls and the Bridal Veil. It also has a verdant park which includes small islands that give one a view of the clean water just before it drops. It is a place where one can spread a blanket and read a book, or snooze or just listen to the relaxing sound of running water.

Frozen all over. A view from below. This viewing area was partially closed during the winter. Niagara, ON.
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I can go on and on about Niagara Falls, but I’m sure you’ll read more about it in other sites. Basta, I’ve seen it four times already but each time, I learn something new, I see something different, and I don’t mind going back again. It’s a sight to see and I hope you’ll see it too… someday.