OUR TRIP INTO NATURE’S POWER – NIAGARA FALLS - CANADA JOURNEY

At last, we reached the much-awaited Niagara Falls. Our coach driver stopped at the Clifton Hill Parking Lot and informed us that we had 4 hours at the Falls and had to be back by the scheduled time. He gave us the priority tickets to Journey Behind Falls and the Niagara cruise.

Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls on the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA. The Niagara River is a connecting channel between the two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario.

The Canadian side is renowned for its sweeping, unobstructed, head-on views of all three waterfalls: the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the massive Horseshoe Falls.

The larger and taller Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side. It stands about 187 feet, while the American Falls varies between 69 and 98 feet in drop because of giant boulders at its base. Horseshoe Falls is about 2,592 feet wide, while the American Falls is 1,050 feet wide.

Niagara Falls formed 12,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, and melting glaciers carved the Great Lakes and forced water over the Niagara Escarpment.

The native people lived near the river for hunting and trade before European contact, and French explorer Father Louis Hannepin wrote the first detailed record of the falls in 1678.

Niagara Falls became a major tourism and honeymoon hub in the early 1800s and developed into a pioneer site for large-scale hydroelectric power when the first large-scale electrical plant was opened in 1895. 

The Niagara River is an important bird area due to its impact on Bonaparte’s gulls, ring-billed gulls, and herring gulls. The river and waterfalls appeal to the birds due to their position on migratory routes, foraging potential, and the unlikelihood to freeze compared to other bodies of water.

The Niagara Falls is not the tallest waterfall in the world, but it is impressive due to the amount of water flowing over it and its combination of height and volume.

More than 6 million cubic feet of water go over the crest line of the falls every minute during peak daytime tourist hours.

Niagara Falls has moved back seven miles in 12,500 years and may be the fastest-moving waterfall in the world.

The startling green colour of the Niagara River is a visible tribute to the erosive power of water. An estimated 60 tons of dissolved minerals are swept over Niagara Falls every minute. The colour comes from the dissolved salts and “rock flour", very finely ground rock.

The waters of the Niagara River are used by a combined Canadian/United States population of more than 1,000,000 people for a wide range of purposes, such as drinking water; boating, swimming, bird-watching, and fishing; and industrial cooling water supply. It is a receiver of municipal and industrial effluents, predominantly for hydropower generation.

From the parking lot, we walked along the paved Niagara River Parkway pedestrian path to visit the Journey Behind the Falls at the Table Rock Centre

Originally called "The Scenic Tunnels," the attraction was officially rebranded as "Journey behind the Falls" in 1994 to better describe the immersive experience. 

As we had already booked tickets, we skipped the lines, presented our tickets, and got a complimentary, biodegradable souvenir rain poncho to keep us dry from the heavy water spray.

Then we stood in line for the elevator, which lowered us by 125 feet down directly through the solid bedrock. Instantly, we could feel the dampness and cool air all around us.

The original bare-rock tunnels were damp and prone to small rock falls. In 1944, the tunnels were completely lined with thick structural concrete, and electric lighting was installed throughout the shafts.

We stepped out into The Cave Portals, the 130-year-old and 151-foot tunnel system, and followed the paths to the Cataract Portal, which was located about a third of the way behind the crashing water, and the Great Falls Portal, positioned further down the tunnel. 

We had to look through viewing windows cut straight out of the rock face behind the falls. It was overwhelming to directly stand behind the roaring falls. Shafts of cool air were blowing continually, along with water spray. Tourists had thrown multiple coins into the pool of water near the portals.

We then walked to the end of the tunnel network to access the outdoor, multi-level observation deck located right at the churning base of Horseshoe Falls.

From the observation desk, we could feel the full impact of the Horseshoe Falls and were spellbound by the sheer enormity of the water gushing down.

We were drenched by the water falling on us whenever the playful wind decided to send the water our way. From the desk, we could clearly see the American Falls and the boats cruising to the falls. Suddenly, as if nature were granting us a special favour, there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky.

The huge volume of water rushing from the falls is crushed into the narrow Great Gorge, creating the Whirlpool Rapids that stretch for 1.6 kilometres. The water surface here drops 50 feet, and the rushing waters can reach speeds to 30 feet per second.

Our next experience was a boat ride to the falls from the Canadian side, courtesy of Niagara City Cruises (formerly known as Hornblower Cruises).

We went from the main plaza down into the gorge and presented our printed digital ticket voucher at the Main Plaza entry gates. We followed the designated accessible pathways to travel down the massive cliff-side rock face to the lower landing and the boarding zones below. 

The boat trip would be for 20 minutes. Right before we walked out onto the boarding docks, the staff handed us a signature red, recyclable mist poncho. We put it on immediately and wrapped our phones securely under the plastic layer.

We then stepped onto the large multi-deck catamaran vessel, which had a capacity of 700 people. Luckily, we could find a spot along the railings of the lower deck for panoramic photo angles. 

Gradually, the boat filled up and started to cruise right past the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls where we could get a close upward view of the massive boulder piles at their base and water crashing over them, before steering directly into the roaring, high-wind mist at the churning base of the massive Canadian Horseshoe Falls. 

We could also see the tourists enjoying the Cave of the Wind on the US side and the tunnels and their openings on the Canadian side.

Experiencing the Niagara City Cruises boat ride was an intense, multi-sensory adventure. We were totally at the mercy of the falls.

As usual, my apprehensive inner voice was sternly inquiring if any accident had occurred on these cruises; I tried vehemently to hush it!

As the boat approached the Horseshoe Falls, we could clearly hear a deep, deafening rumble that was like a vibration in the chest. 

The wind was so powerful that sudden, heavy gusts almost blew us over. As we reached the falls, we got very wet, despite wearing the poncho. It was as if we were standing in a heavy, high-speed rainstorm. 

The highlight of the trip was entering the deep curve of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and finding ourselves surrounded on three sides by a massive, 170-foot-tall wall of churning, emerald-green water. 

At the closest point, the mist became so thick that it created a temporary "whiteout" effect, and we were looking into a dense cloud of water vapour. 

It was the ultimate moment of joy, shock, and jubilation that enveloped and rendered us speechless, and the roar of the falls didn’t allow our voices to be heard.

Presently, there are two 700-passenger double-stack catamaran tour boats named Niagara Wonder and Niagara Thunder.

Every evening, the falls are lit up in vibrant colors. During peak seasons and holidays, the city also hosts spectacular nightly fireworks displays over the water. Niagara Falls receives over 20 million visitors annually, with summer as the peak period. It is both a daytime and evening attraction. 

The only recorded freeze-up of the river and falls was caused by an ice jam on March 29, 1848. No water fell for as much as 40 hours, water wheels stopped, and mills and factories shut down.

In 1912, American Falls was completely frozen, but the other two falls were still flowing. In 1885, 1902, 1906, 1911, 1932, 1936, 2014, 2017 and 2019, there was partial freezing of the falls.

We emerged from the boat thoroughly soaked, but our hearts were full of joy and happiness, disposed of our ponchos and spent some time at the Niagara Parkway.

This scenic, pedestrian-friendly boulevard stretches along the Niagara River, offering stunning, unobstructed views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls.

Looking at the rapidly flowing Falls water, I recalled that hundreds of people have gone over Niagara Falls, either intentionally or accidentally. The first recorded person to survive going over the falls was school teacher Annie Edson Taylor, who in 1901 completed the stunt inside an oak barrel. In the following 125 years, thousands of people have been swept over the falls, but only sixteen people have reportedly survived the feat.

All instances of people having survived the trip over the falls have been over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Following the death of one daredevil in 1951, stunting at Niagara Falls has been illegal and subject to fines of up to $25,000 US dollars and arrest.

The falls are beautiful year-round, although the peak tourist season runs from May through October when all boat tours and walkways are fully open.

The cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York, United States, are connected by two international bridges. The Rainbow Bridge, just downriver from the falls, affords the closest view of the falls and is open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

One can easily walk or drive between both sides of the fall via the Rainbow Bridge if one carries a valid passport.

The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge lies 1.6 kilometres north of the Rainbow Bridge and is the oldest bridge over the Niagara River. It is restricted exclusively to pre-approved NEXUS cardholders and Amtrak trains.

We later went to the highly commercialized and bustling, tourist district on Clifton Hill with casinos, hotels, and restaurants. Known as the "Street of Fun," this vibrant strip features attractions like the Niagara Sky Wheel, haunted houses, arcades, and wax museums. We didn’t linger there but went back to the parking area and waited for our coach, which arrived on time. 

Our last stop for the day was the Skylon Tower. We went to the tower and went up, 520 feet in an exterior glass elevator to an observation deck, where we could see panoramic views of the falls and the surrounding region, even as far as Toronto. 

Helicopter tours of the falls from both the US and Canada have been offered since the early 1960s, and despite many fatal crashes, they are popular. The Canadian side is served by operators like Niagara Helicopters and the US side by Rainbow Air, both of which provide daily aerial tours, weather permitting.

Finally, after a tiring but thrilling day, we returned to our hotel in Toronto.

CHASING WONDER AT NIAGARA FALLS -CANADA JOURNEY

It was our second day in Canada, and we planned to go to Niagara Falls on a day trip through Air Links Travel. I was very excited to see the mighty Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

We had our breakfast at the hotel restaurant and took a cab to Bay Street, which was the pickup point for our day tour to the falls. I observed that most of the cab drivers in Canada were Pakistanis and were very polished and well-mannered.

As we went quite early and our pickup time was at 10.30 am, we decided to cross the road and have a look at the harbour. 

Bay Street is Toronto's primary north-south financial and media hub and houses the headquarters of Canada’s major banks and the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

Originally named "Bear Street" due to frequent bear sightings in early Toronto, the street was renamed in 1797,  after it was extended to connect to a bay at the Toronto Harbour. 

We stepped into Harbour Square Park, which was on the Toronto harbor. It is next to the Harbour Square condos, the Jack Layton Terminal, and the Westin Harbour Castle.

The park was opened as part of a planned 85 million dollar waterfront project started in 1964, and was completed in the early 1970s at 250 million dollars.

The park was very pleasant, filled with huge trees and long stretches of green lawns with a waterfront boardwalk. Located next to the Jack Layton Ferry Docks and on the shores of Lake Ontario, Harbour Square Park offers downtown folks a spot to sit and watch the ferries travel back and forth to Toronto Island. 

We felt very serene sitting on the benches and had beautiful views of the downtown skyline.

There was a life-sized bronze statue of an old man, depicting the beloved former NDP leader and ardent cyclist Jack Layton riding a tandem bike. The piece is affectionately called "Jack's Got Your Back" and was created by artist David Pellettier. It featured an empty front seat where visitors are encouraged to hop on and take photos.

There was a Sundial Folly, a bisected, hovering concrete orb located in a reflection pool in Harbour Square Park West. 

At 10.30 am, the bus arrived, and it looked very small, but once we climbed inside and got seated, we felt comfortable.

Our guide for the trip was one Mr Haroon, who was very efficient and helpful, he greeted all of us, briefed us about the tour, and explained the timelines to be followed.

The total travel time was about an hour and forty-five minutes from Toronto. 

Our first stop was at Niagara Whirlpool for a quick restroom break and to stretch our legs. This is a spot where all the tourists stop to have a beautiful preview of the Niagara Falls ahead. 

The Whirlpool Rapids Lookout points on the viewing platform and surrounding Whirlpool Gorge area offer views of some of the most intense, dangerous water channels in the world from 250 feet above the water, which rushes through the narrow channel at 48 km per hour.

The name "whirlpool" arose because, located about 4 kilometers north of the main falls along the Niagara Parkway, the river drops 15.8 meters in a short stretch, creating massive 3-to-5-meter standing waves and a violent counter-clockwise vortex.

Rapids are rated as Class VI Rapids, which is the highest possible danger rating and the water completely is un-navigable.

However, those who have time and energy, can take an elevator 70 meters down through the Cliffside to a quarter-mile wooden boardwalk right at the river's edge.

We saw the Whirlpool Aero Car, an antique cable car suspended directly over the swirling center of the vortex. It was traveling through the air between two points on the Canadian side, crossing the US border line four times along the way. I wanted to go in it, but the queue was too long, and we were on a tour.

Just a 5-minute drive from the falls, we came to the 20,000-square-foot Canadian-themed Maple Leaf Place. It had welcome signs designed specifically for tourists to park and take a landmark photo easily. 

The admission was free, and it included a tour and tasting at a real maple factory, an expansive souvenir gift shop, and an art and culture section featuring local Canadian artists.

Giant Canadian Icon Statues, like oversized outdoor and indoor figures, including a massive Moose statue and Mountie icons, were scattered throughout the place.

Our group was welcomed and taken to a rustic barn-like setup, and sleek flight boards with small sampling cups of golden, amber, and dark syrups were offered.

The maple syrup experience was an exciting journey into one of Canada’s most iconic traditions. 

We discovered the history of maple syrup, watched the fascinating process of production, and tasted a variety of pure and infused syrups.

From learning how sap is transformed into liquid gold to experiencing the rich flavours that make maple so special, this hands-on adventure blends education, storytelling, and indulgence.

The place also offered a chocolate factory experience with a fun and creative look into the art of artisanal chocolate making. 

From the viewing area, where massive factory windows allowed us to watch the precise process of crafting premium treats, we saw firsthand how chocolate is transformed into edible art. We also enjoyed a guided tasting of gourmet chocolates and unique confections.

Those who were hungry could step onto the outdoor patio and enjoy some of Niagara’s best wines, beers, and spirits under the shade of a giant canoe that was right across the street from the roaring Niagara River. 

The "Over the Fall" illusion station was a playful backdrop where we could pose and pretend that we were plunging over Niagara Falls in a barrel. 

A glittering, artistic tree installation was in the main showroom area, and there were plenty of souvenirs for tourists to take back home. 

Our next step was Niagara Falls, Hurray! At last, we were about to finally see them.