Miracle of the World - Niagara Falls

Many of us have heard of this amazing miracle of the world. However, everyone knows about where the Niagara Falls is - the most famous and one of the most beautiful in the world? And it is located on the Niagara River, directly between Canada and the United States of America. Virtually Niagara Falls is relevant to both states, settling in part in both America and Canada, in Ontario. 130 km from this place is the largest Canadian city - Toronto.

Here, on the border of Canada and the USA, are located the largest fresh lakes of the Earth: Ontario, Upper, Huron, Michigan and Erie, with the water of four of them flowing into the Niagara River. The height of Niagara Falls is fifty-three meters. The thunder of its waters can be heard at a fairly decent distance. The very word that the river is named for is of Indian origin and literally means "water that rumbles" or "rumbling water". At night, its hum is carried for miles.

An interesting Indian legend is associated with the Niagara Falls. It says that in ancient times a very beautiful Indian girl was engaged to one man. Her name was Lalavalae, and the girl was promised by her father to the Indian warrior's wife. But she did not at all like her betrothed: her heart belonged to the God of Thunder, whose dwelling was at the foot of the Horseshoe Falls. Here it is necessary to make some clarifications. The fact is that Niagara Falls includes not one, but three whole separate waterfalls. This is the aforementioned "Horseshoe", as well as "Fata" and "American".

The waterfall "Horseshoe" is also known as the "Canadian". So, the heroine of the Indian legend - Lelawalai - loved God by the name of He-No, and hated the Indian warrior. Then she rushed from a height in a stormy stream of water to her lover. Since then, He-No and Lelawalai live inseparably together. Niagara Falls, more precisely, the sanctuary of the god under the "Horseshoe", became an eternal haven for their souls. This is a favorite tourist destination. At the same time, the energy sector has its own interest here.

At least for thirty years, the residents of nearby villages enjoy the benefits of electricity, which is generated from one of the waterfalls. In fact, by now grandiose buildings have been built, thanks to which even an American city is supplied with electricity from this place at a decent distance of 32 kilometers. It's about Buffalo. Under the ground, giant pipelines are built, which are connected to turbines. The current capacity of electric power produced by power plants is 1.5 Gigawatts.

Attractive Niagara Falls and for fans of all kinds of extreme. As early as 1829, someone Sem Pach actually repeated the feat of the legendary Indian girl. Taking the nickname "Yankee Liper", he made a leap from the "Horseshoe" and went down in history as the first person to do something like that. Naturally, such a feat did not go unnoticed, and since then many brave men tried to repeat it.

It must be admitted that many desperate heads succeeded, but not all. At the very beginning of the twentieth century, a woman named Annie Taylor rushed into the streams of a waterfall in a barrel. She was sixty-three years old and she remained unharmed. Unfortunately, not all of the fourteen followers of Sem Pach and Annie Taylor were lucky. Some of them drowned, while others were seriously injured. In fairness, it should be said that such "exploits" are not encouraged by the laws of the USA and Canada, and the surviving heroes are subject to solid fines.

Here are some interesting facts: in connection with erosion, the shape of the waterfall channel changed, and so in 1969 work was carried out to strengthen the slopes. The river was put into another channel, and Niagara Falls for several months was dry. Tourists who visit this place received a truly indelible impression.

The phenomenon of Niagara Falls is so fascinating that it is difficult to take your eyes off of it. For lovers of such beauties, special bridges were erected above and below the river.