On Canada Day, we take a look at the great Niagara Falls that lie on the border between Canada and the United States. While Canada undoubtedly offers a better view of the Niagara Falls, the Maid of the Mist tour on the American side more than makes up for it.
As soon as we reached the Niagara Falls State Park on the edge of Buffalo town in upper New York state, we raced to the river admiring its ferocity. The oldest state park in the US, dating back to 1885, offers expansive walking trails and breathtaking panoramic viewpoints. And then I saw it- the emerald waters of the Niagara river descending into a fall. The gushing, foaming waters provided a beautiful backdrop to the many tourists wielding cameras. Across the waterfall, the Canadian skyline loomed in the distance, dotted with hotels and casinos.
We made our way to the 200 feet high observation deck. A short elevator ride down took us to the waiting boat from the Maid of the Mist tour. We were handed blue plastic ponchos that were supposed to shield us from the spray from the falls. It is another story that they proved wholly inadequate once we reached close to the Horse shoe falls.
Niagara Falls comprise of three falls- the American Falls, the Bridal Veil and the Horse shoe Falls or the Canadian Falls. As the boat pulled away, we stood on the deck braving the winds and the rocking of the boat even as the ponchos fluttered noisily in the windy conditions. Turning away from the direction of the falls, I spotted the high steel arch Rainbow bridge- the pedestrian border crossing between Canada and the United States. But since we did not have a Canadian visa, we left it out of the itinerary.
Excitement filled us as we neared the American falls, partially obscured by the spray and the mist. It was difficult to tell where the clouds ended and the falls began. A staggering 2600 cubic metres of water pours over the edge per second at about 40 kmph, making it the largest waterfall in North America by volume and width. Looking at the curtain of roaring, tumbling water, it felt like we were standing in the Ice Age. I was mesmerized… till my cousin told me that the real show was up ahead!
As we neared the larger Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, the wind picked up speed and the spray of water grew naughtier. Water sneaked inside the poncho wetting the sleeves, the legs and the shoes. How I envied my co-passengers who had cared to do some research and decided to wear flip flops and shorts! The droplets were making it increasingly difficult to keep our eyes open and it felt as if we were on a giant roller coaster ride, especially with the squeals of laughter filling the air.
We were so thankful it was summer. Just imagining the partially frozen falls in winter time sent shivers up our spine. The boat took a turn and we were headed back to our dock. On the opposite Canadian side, we could see tourists in red ponchos boarding their boat. We got off and got rid of our ponchos. The shoes were a squelching mess but the hearts were full of exhilaration as we headed to the souvenir shop.
Another thrilling way to experience the falls is the Cave of the Winds walk which takes visitors 175 feet into the Niagara gorge along wooden decks just feet away from the crashing Bridal veil Falls. The Niagara Falls welcome over 12 million visitors annually.
We returned to the falls once more after nightfall to experience the mesmerizing light show over the falls culminating in the fireworks lighting up the night sky- another summertime special.
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