Today, I am going to wrap up my short journey in Ontario. My final destination is at one of the world's most magnificent and extraordinary nature--Niagara Falls. I can somehow here the sound of the pounding water and the roar of the falls from hundreds of kilometers away. Let's go check it out!
Niagara Falls is also a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903. Across the Niagara River is Niagara Falls, New York. Every year, millions of visitors, tourists come and enjoy this fantastic landmark. I am one of them.
Here's the reason why this city can attract so many people, even more than New York: The city is dominated by the Niagara Falls, a world famous set of two large waterfalls on the Niagara River and benefits from the fact that both falls, the American and Horseshoe, can be best seen from the Canadian side of the river, thus presenting the city one of the major tourist attractions of the world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls,_Ontario) Impressive Eh?
Latitude: 43° 6' 0 N, Longitude: 79° 2' 60 W
Topography:
The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge on the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Nothing but a huge fall is there. A few cliffs along the side of the fall. The water is very strong and blue.
Climate: it has a humid continental climate which is moderated to an extent in all seasons by proximity to water bodies. In winter it can receive snow-squalls from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The Niagara Falls area has seen continuous settlement since the 17th century, first by the Iroquois and then by Europeans who were drawn to the immense falls. Louis Hennepin, a French priest, is regarded as the first European to visit the area in the 1670s. Tourism started in the early 19th century and has been a vital part of the local economy since that time. As well as the obvious attractions of the falls, Niagara Falls markets itself as a honeymoon destination and is self-proclaimed as the honeymoon capital of the world. The name of the town was changed to Niagara Falls in 1881. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls,_Ontario)
After the history check@@ let's move on to the Fall itself^^ It is located in Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowland region. Around it, the city depends on tourism, service and industry based economy and a bit of natural power. People come and visit and the shops serve all the foods and other services. The economy didn't really change a lot over time. The Fall was here so the land was fertile. But mainly, the reason why people kept settling here was that the Fall itself was magnificent and wonderful.
The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is part of Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation, flows over Horseshoe Falls. The remaining 10% flows over the American Falls. It is located between Terrapin Point on Goat Island in New York State, and Table Rock on the Ontario side of the falls. Much of Horseshoe Falls is located in Ontario, Canada with the remainder in New York State, United States of America. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_Falls)
Another interesting facts I got from the internet: The name is derived from its curving, horseshoe-shaped crest that is 671 metres in width. At the center of the Horseshoe Falls the water is about 3 metres deep. It passes over the crest at a speed of about 32 kilometres per hour. The fall is 53 metres high, has an average crest elevation of 152 metres and faces northwards. The depth of the river at the base of the falls, estimated at 56 metres, is actually higher than the fall itself. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_Falls)
So I visit the Horseshoe Fall^o^
I then go take a ferry. The ferry just travels underneath the Falls. I feel the moisture hitting my face even though I am a hundred meter away from the Fall. See how strong the force is?
I sort of want to try bungee jumping at Niagara Fall in a really hot summer^^ It should feel great!!!!!!
On the way back to the dock, I sit down and find out the population of this small city.
The population of Niagara Falls is about 82,184 people. It's not a huge city. English people occupy about 22880, Italians occupy 15425 and the Scottish occupy 13910.
Population is pretty spread out since the Falls are wonderful and people like to live around them rather than staying in the city. The city itself is in between rural and urban I would say. The pulling effects are the wonderful nature and the hydro-power=cheap electricity^^
Let's take a look at one special economy of this place. Hydroelectric is a great source of energy here. Many electro-chemical and electro-metallurgical industries located here in the early to mid-20th century.
Another place to look at is Niagara Peninsula. It is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. It's slightly bigger in terms of population: it's about 1,000,000 people.
The area was originally owned by a First Nations people called the "Neutrals". The Niagara Peninsula then became one of the first areas settled in Upper Canada by British Loyalists in the late 18th century. Following the agricultural period of European settlement, the Niagara area became an important industrial centre, with water-powered mills joined later by hydro-electric power generation in Niagara Falls and electricity-intensive industry in both Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Peninsula)
The land is really fertile here. I see many farms here. I think it's probably because this region is surrounded by 2 lakes. I also see some grape farms^^ Apparently the fruit farming is a good choice here.
My journey has come to an end.
The long weekend is about to end too.
I will go back to BC tomorrow and I will, for sure, miss this wonderful province, Toronto, again!
Source; Wikipedia, Google Engine, www.statcan.ca
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