Niagara Falls: The History of North America’s Most Famous Waterfalls

*Includes pictures *Includes historic descriptions of Niagara Falls written over the centuries *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “All trembling, I reached the Falls of Niagara, and oh, what a scene! My blood shudders still, although I am not a coward, at the grandeur of the Creator's power; and I gazed motionless on this new display of the irresistible force of one of His elements.” - John James Audubon “It's Niagara Falls. It's one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. Who wouldn't want to walk across it?” - Nik Wallenda North America is full of natural wonders, but few inspire as much awe as Niagara Falls, the continent’s most famous waterfalls. Comprised of three separate waterfalls (Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls), Niagara’s falls can boast of the fastest flow rate in the world, dropping 6 million cubic feet of water every minute from as high as 185 feet. Situated on the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is not just a prime tourist spot but a source of hydroelectric power that attracted scientists like Nikola Tesla who hoped to harness the waterfalls’ energy. In fact, Niagara Falls is so powerful that it is eroding the ground under it, to the extent that it will cease to exist in about 50,000 years. Niagara Falls is a byproduct of glaciers receding about 10,000 years ago, and it has been amazing people for as long as the area has been inhabited. It’s widely believed Niagara is a word derived from the Mohawk tribe, but the most famous people now associated with the waterfalls are those who have dared to ride down the falls one way or another. The falls have seen both amateurs and professional stuntmen ride over it in barrels, some successfully and others fatally, and a local museum has even preserved some of the barrels used in the attempts. Just as daringly, others have tried to walk tightropes across the falls. Niagara Falls: The History of North America’s Most Famous Waterfalls traces the history of the region and its establishment as a park. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Yosemite like never before, in no time at all.