Niagara Falls, NY

This North American natural wonder flows with picturesque and breathtaking beauty that captures one’s senses the minute you lay eyes on. The Niagara Falls State Park is America’s oldest State Park that has a lot of touristy attractions for one to enjoy and take in the whole experience of the magnificent falls. From the decks, vistas, boat rides and trails, the splendor of the Niagara Falls leaves one spellbound in awe and wonder. 

It is believed that millions of gallons of water rocket over Niagara Falls every minute. Niagara Falls is the collective name of its three magnificent waterfalls – The Horseshoe Falls that lie on the Canadian border, The American Falls on the American side and the smallest is the Bridal Veil Falls also on the American side. These falls border Canada and America and hence each country has their own share of its magnificence although many dispute that the best view is from the Canadian side as all three falls can be viewed. 

Some of the attractions you cannot afford to miss are the Cave of the Winds, The Niagara State Park, Niagara Gorge Trail, Maid of the Mist tour are just  few of the many attractions at the State Park.  

My favorite is the Maid of the Mist tour that takes tourists to the very edge of the falls. The hooded raincoats provided are essential as one appreciates the thrill of the wind-driven mist at the base of the falls.  

Another favorite is the Cave of Winds tour, a thrilling walk along the Niagara falls that eventually takes you into the stormy mist to get all soaked up and experience the freshness of the water as it drenches you with brilliance. The journey begins with an elevator ride 175 feet down the Niagara Gorge, you need to have your gear on- a hooded poncho and wooden sandals are provided. At the hurricane deck, one experiences closeness with Niagara Falls and it cannot get closer than this. So what you procure basically is a torrential downpour.

If you thought that was thrilling, just go ahead and experience the torrent of the Bridal Veil Falls that will entice you with the familiarity of tropical storm conditions only divinely thrill and leave you shattering in anxiety at the fast pace of the watery mist lashing on your face. 

Every evening at dusk, the Falls are lit in hues of the rainbow and should not be missed. This unmatched beauty of the falls is illuminated for all the see its glory even at night.

Here are some interesting facts about the Niagara Falls :

Four of the five Great Lakes drain into the Niagara River, (Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie) before emptying into Lake Ontario. These five Great Lakes make up almost one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply.

Niagara Falls State Park stretches over 400 acres, with close to 140 acres of that under water.  

Hydroelectricity is one of Niagara Falls’ most important products. Together, power plants on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls produce nearly 2.5 million kilowatts of electricity.

The Niagara River ecosystems support many of New York State's protected animal species, such as the Lake Sturgeon, Peregrine Falcon and American Bald Eagle. 

The startling green color of the Niagara River is a visible tribute to the erosive power of water. An estimated 60 tons of dissolved minerals are swept over Niagara Falls every minute. The color comes from the dissolved salts and "rock flour," very finely ground rock, picked up primarily from the limestone bed but probably also from the shale and sandstone under the limestone cap at the falls.

Niagara Falls is truly nature's paradise. What you see is what you have to digest to understand the magnanimity of this enthralling State Park. Visit when the weather is pleasant and enjoy the sights and sounds of the best waterfall on earth -Niagara Falls.