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Niagara Falls and a Thousand Islands

Simo Jelača, Ph. D.

NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara Falls is Canada’s most famous natural attraction, visited by millions of visitors each year. They are located just over an hour's drive from Toronto, along the American border, where a massive amount of water falls from about 57 meters. Visitors can observe the waterfalls from astonishingly close distance from the edge at their top. When it falls, water disperses into billions of drops, through which the sun's rays are refracted, creating a rainbow of light, above the water.

Niagara Falls and the Niagara Valley have been attracting tourists for more than a century. Between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, there were numerous attempts to jump into waterfalls in hand-made boats and barrels. The spectacle of the waterfall, together with the attractions in the neighboring city of "Niagara Falls", create a special atmosphere in the form of a carnival that traditionally exists and brings great income to tourism. Visitors enjoy a walk, and a view from the top of "Clifton Hill", located just above the valley of the waterfall.

Right next to the waterfalls, a monument to Nikola Tesla, a Serb, the world's greatest inventor, was erected on the Canadian side, without whose inventions world civilization would look completely different today. Nikola Tesla built the first alternating current hydroelectric power plant right there, at Niagara Falls, which first illuminated Buffalo, then Chicago and then New York. Tesla's second monument is also located on the American side of Niagara, on Goat Island.

Niagara Falls is one of the most attractive places in the world, formed more than 13,000 years ago by glaciers, where the Seneca Indians first lived. The special beauty of Niagara Falls stands out during the winter, when they are completely frozen. Then the icebergs completely cover all the rocky shores of the waterfall, below which no water flow can be seen.

The autumn days, when Stasa brought Alex, with her parents, to visit the famous "Marinland" and Niagara Falls, were beautiful. They visited Niagara Falls, where they rode the boat "Meid-of-the-Mist" ( Maide of the Mist), which sails first to the American side and then to below the Horse Shoe waterfall. All passengers are covered in raincoats because of the raindrops that fall like rain. After that, Stasa and Alex rode to Sky Wheel, a 56-meter-high point where Stasa was terribly afraid.

On the second day, they visited "Marineland" with countless attractions for children, including: "Walking adventure", "Tivoli wheel", "Killer wells". whales) Alex enjoyed it, and Grandma Bosa had to sit with him and keep him on all these acrobatics.

The Ontario wine region is located on Lake Erie, near Niagara Falls, where there are over 30 wineries that produce world-class wines. Downstream of the Niagara River, just a few miles, is the picturesque little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, sandwiched between the river and Lake Onterio, with a phenomenal view of the undulating waters of Lake Ontario and the vineyards at the opposite side. The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has many comfortable private hotels, always ready to accept and host guests from all over the world.

In the immediate vicinity of that city is the place "St. St. Catherine, from where a large canal leads to guide many ships from Lake Onterio through the stepped gates to Lake Iri. In the extension of the highway, you can go to Windsor, about 300 km away, a city with about 220 thousand inhabitants, or turn to Highway 401 towards Toronto. The highway from Niagara to Toronto is the Queen Elizabeth (QEW) road that runs past Hamilton, over the high bridge in Burlington. Highway 401, which runs from Windsor all the way to Quebec City, is the largest and busiest highway in Canada, passing through London, Woodstock and Kitchener, a highly developed industrial city. Just before entering Highway 401 in Toronto, it passes between Mississauga and the busiest Canadian international airport, Pierson.

A THOUSAND ISLANDS

Thousands of islands represent an archipelago of 1,864 islands located on the border between Canada and the United States. They stretch for about 80 miles downstream from Kingston. The Canadian islands belong to the province of Onterio, and the American state to the state of New York.

The size of these 1,864 islands ranges from over 100 km² to smaller, single-inhabitant, or uninhabited rocks that are the only home for migratory birds. To belong to one of the Thousand Islands, the calculated island must have an area of ​​at least one square foot (0.093 m²) on land above the water level throughout the year, as well as a requirement for at least two trees.

The highway passes further from Picton to the northeast, passing by the Thousand Islands, which belong equally to Canada and the United States. The state border runs between and across the island through the middle of the water, which connects Lake Onterio to the Atlantic Ocean. Water flows from the Great Lakes, through Lakes Iri and Onterio, and further in the form of the river St. Lorenz in the Atlantic. This waterway connects Canada and the United States, through which thousands of world ships pass, entering the central part of the North American continent.

Of these islands, the largest is Maryville Wolfe Island, followed by Grindstone, Wellesley, Hill Island. "Grenadier Island" and thousands of smaller ones, if anyone knows their exact number. From the bridge that leads from the Canadian wooded side, not far from the village of "Ivy Lea", it crosses a narrow part of the lake water, relatively very high, which allows passers-by a fantastic view on both sides, and touches the Hill Island. Hill Island) and then to Wellesley Island and enters the customs zone on the United States side. The view from that high bridge looks almost like from the sky or from a fairy tale.

Cottages and castles have been built on each island. Owners can only get to their houses by boat.

A floating boat passes by a castle, for which the tourist guide says that the owner of that castle built a house for his mother-in-law only ten or twenty meters from his castle, but she did not know how to swim, and since she did not have a boat, she depended on her son-in-law. will let her out of the house.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many reputable owners made this region, known as a summer resort with several grand hotels, for luxury accommodation, while steamships offer comfortable tours among the islands. The owners from the rich and middle class built summer houses, some even built "castles" that remain as international landmarks.

Thousand Islands is a corridor for nature lovers, and both Onterio and New York have government regulations for parks along the waterfront. Canada has a bike and walking trail along the water for all those who enjoy spending free time by the water. The author and his wife spent a wonderful day on the ship, sailing between numerous islands and enjoying the stories of a tourist guide, while the May sun warmed us on the deck of the ship. The ambience remained unforgettable for us forever.

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