Niagara Falls Remains the World’s Most Popular Waterfall - United States and Canada
What is It? - There are three great waterfalls in the world and all three of them straddle the borders of two countries. Africa’s Victoria Falls has dramatic locations where visitors can see the falls in both Zambia and Zimbabwe, and South America’s Iguazu Falls can be viewed from both Argentina and Brazil. The third one, Niagara Falls, is on the border between Canada and the United States. It is the world’s most popular waterfall and can be visited much easier than the other two by driving about twenty miles from downtown Buffalo, New York or driving about fifty miles south of Toronto, Ontario.
The Niagara River connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. At Niagara Falls, it separates into three different falls which plunge hundreds of feet into a rocky gorge. The first of these is known as the American Falls which flows powerfully from the Upper Niagara River through rapids and past a small chunk of land known as Luna Island and a popular viewing platform known as Prospect Point. The opening at the American Falls has a crestline of about 1,000 feet and drops down 188 feet. At the base is a large rock pile formed from bedrock and boulders dropping over the falls. The second falls on the American side are the smaller Bridal Veil Falls which are best viewed from Luna Islands. These falls have a crestline of only fifty feet but fall almost 180 feet.
The largest falls at Niagara are the Horseshoe Falls also known as the Canadian Falls since ninety percent of it is located on the Canadian part of the river. The crestline of these falls is 2,200 feet and most of the river’s total flow goes over the Horseshoe Falls. The Horseshoe Falls are best viewed from the western side of Goat Island at the beautiful viewing platform known as Terrapin Point. Collectively, the falls create a roar that can be heard for miles and create a beautiful mist.
Popular Places to Visit There- There are several prominent places to observe the falls or experience its power up close. These include:
The Niagara State Park – The Niagara State Park on the American side is a four-hundred-acre park with trails, overlooks and islands that provide easy access to the falls area. The park is reached by driving along the Upper Niagara River on the Niagara Scenic Parkway to Downtown Niagara Falls. The park has a visitors’ center, gift shop, restroom facilities, and large open spaces for picnicking, walking, and observing the falls. The most popular sites within the park are the large viewing platforms at Prospect Point and on Goat Island at Terrapin Point. Another popular site is the 240-foot-tall observation tower located behind the visitors center which juts out over the river to provide a full view of the three falls.
Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds- One popular paid excursions is to take a short ride from the U.S. side along the falls on the iconic Maid of the Mist vessel to see the Canadian Falls at the Horseshoe Basin while cloaked in ponchos. Another is to visit the base of the falls by riding down the Cave of the Winds elevator located on Goat Island. From the bottom, you can see the Bridal Veil Falls up close on a special platform known as the Hurricane Deck.
Other Falls Attractions- Some people also enjoy seeing the falls lit up at night or stopping at the Visitors Center for the Niagara Power Company to learn about the large amount of electric power generated there Visitors can reach the Canadian side and experience the scenic Table Rock viewing area by crossing over the Rainbow Bridge located close to the Niagara State Park.
Interesting Facts- Downtown Niagara Falls features a wide variety of commercial activities including hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment destinations. A popular honeymoon site in prior generations, Niagara Falls still attracts over twenty-two million visitors each year to the American and Canadian attractions around the falls.
When to Go There- The best months to visit Niagara Falls in terms of the weather, availability of boat rides and other attractions, and avoiding the large crowds are May, June, September, and October. The Niagara State Park, hotels and viewing platforms remain open during the late fall, winter, and early spring. Despite the cold, some people enjoy the ice formation and raw power of nature during those months too.
Cost- There is no charge to enter the Niagara Falls State Park on the U.S. side which includes access to Goat Island and viewing platforms. Some locations around the park and its parking lots charge a parking fee. Fees are charged for the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, and other special activities.