Horseshoe Falls
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
Approaching the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
Goat Island
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
Goat Island separates the American falls (on the left) from the Canadian Horseshoe falls (on the right) and belongs to the state of New York.
Ontario Border
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
A helicopter's eye view over Rainbow Bridge and the Canadian border entrypoint in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Above Horseshoe Falls
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
The Niagara River tumbles over the iconic horseshoe-shaped waterfall on the Canadian side, 173 feet (53 meters) high.
At the Edge
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
Standing at the top edge of Horseshoe Falls, 173 feet above the base of Niagara Falls. As the most powerful waterfall in North America, Niagara Falls moves some 202,000 cubic feet (5,700 cubic meters) of water per second.
Maid of the Mist
Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic
A popular tourist attraction, the Maid of the Mist has carried passengers up close to the base of Niagara Falls since 1846, when the wooden boat served as a ferry between the United States and Canada. Seven boats have been consecutively christened, "Maid of the Mist".
Horseshoe Falls Panorama
Horseshoe Falls Panorama
The larger of the two waterfalls at Niagara Falls, Horseshoe Falls measures some 2,600 feet (790 meters) across.
Posted by Andrew Evans of National Geographic Traveler June 26, 2011
You can’t visit Ontario and not visit Niagara Falls.
Why not? Because these are the most powerful waterfalls in all of North America and they are too big, too beautiful and too wondrous to pass up. The only problem is that several millions of other people feel the same way. More than 12 million per year, in fact. It’s a busy place.
Like so many, I visited Niagara Falls as a young child. I came back as a teenager and then again last week. They seemed less gargantuan than when I was eight, but nonetheless, I was quite happy to see that they’re still there. In popular culture, Niagara Falls has become a touchstone of permanence, a symbol that no matter what, some things never change.
Humans are forever awed by the falls and I am no exception. I am still in awe of them and the awesome things they inspire people to do: going over in barrels, walking high wires, writing epic poems and attempting daredevil feats.
In the year of 2011, there is very little that I can add to the wealth of human adoration for Niagara Falls. All I have to offer is this handful of iPhone pics, some of which I snapped from a swift helicopter ride over the falls. They may fall short of the standards set by the Hudson River School, but it’s my own little digital contribution to the ongoing love affair with the impressive and mighty Niagara Falls.
National geographic
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