WONDER OF THE WORLD NIAGARA

Today we're going to one of the Seven Wonders of the World.......Niagara Falls.  Once we got through the tourist area and into the parking lot, we started walking through this beautiful Niagara State Park.  

It is a cooperative between US and Canada as the largest falls,    Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island.  Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side and American Falls on the American side.  

Our first stop was the Observation Deck where I took pictures of the top of the falls.  Had I known how high up we were, I probably wouldn’t have gotten so close to the sides …. But I didn’t look down which would have given me my first clue!   Not crazy about heights.

Water flowing out of Lakes Erie into Lake Ontario create  the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world.    American Falls has a vertical drop of between 70-100’ and  Horseshoe Falls has a vertical drop of 173 feet forming the border between US and Ontario, Canada.

More than six million cubic feet of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow and almost four million cubic feet on average.  During the summer months 100,000 cubic feet/second flow over the falls with 90% going over Horeshoe Falls.  The balance is diverted to the hydroelectric facilities.

The verdant green color is a byproduct of dissolved salts and rock flour generated by erosive forces of the Niagara River.  Given an estimated erosion rate, it is estimated that 50,000 years from now the remaining 20 miles to Lake Erie will be undermined and the falls will cease to exist.  Image the history books telling students about the primitive society that would come to visit the now-non-existent falls!

Rainbow Bridge is the entry point to Canada.  It is a traffic bridge, but also a pedestrian bridge.  

MAID OF THE MIST

VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM

Then we took an elevator …. Thank God ….. down to the bottom to board Maid of the Mist to ride out to Horseshoe Falls.

 As we approached the docks, we were provided a souvenir rain poncho.   I put my camera (the expensive one) in my purse under the poncho and took out my trusty point and shoot to use on this trip.

 I guess they thought we might be getting wet!   Maid of the Mist departs from the US Side and Canadian Side taking turns going under Horseshoe Falls.

From a later vantage point, we saw where we once were --- no wonder it was so wet and windy!

The sea gulls were very busy down here in the gorge.  Hoping to pick up some chopped up fish, I assume!

The view from the bottom is impressive.  We are passing American Falls heading for Horseshoe Falls.

Just an indication of how windy and wet it was - the force of power from Horseshoe Falls was phenomenal.  

Approaching Horseshoe Falls.  About all I could do before camera got soaked!

When we returned to the docks, we climbed up the side of the American Falls.  Right up close and personal to this massive flow of water.

Returning to the top, we headed over to Goat Island to take a closer look at Horseshoe Falls.  

AT THE TOP OF AMERICAN FALLS!

From Goat Island we could get a great view of the American Falls.  It was difficult to get a good shot of Horseshoe Falls since it is best seen from Canada.

Ontario, Canada laid out in front of us across the gorge.  Their observation needle was busy taking visitors to the top in an outside elevator.  Glad it wasn't me going up there!

ONE FINAL MAJESTIC VIEW OF THIS MAGNIFICENT SIGHT!