Quarantine Travel Fix: Niagara Falls, Canada
If you’ve ever had the wanderlust bug or even a case of cabin fever, I bet you are having a difficult time during this COVID-19 quarantine. Please stay home and stay safe, and I’ll give you your travel fix. Today we’re jetting off to Niagara Falls, Canada. All photos are mine!
Niagara Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, was formed 12,000 years ago when the glacial ice melted. However, the structure of Niagara Falls is not static. Natural weathering and erosion have moved the Falls. Intervention aid has been given to the Falls, and the flow of water over the edge has been reduced for the use of hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power is generated when potential energy of falling or fast-flowing water is converted into mechanical energy. It is important for us to utilize renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon emissions. It is also important to use renewable energy sources like hydropower because fossil fuel sources are finite. On my visit to Table Rock, pictured below, the tunnels inform you about the birthplace of hydroelectric power.
The Ontario Power Generating Station, built in 1905, is located along the bank of the river. It has been out of commission since 1999. Interestingly, the American Falls were stopped at one point in history. In 1969, the United States Army Corps of Engineers carried out a study of the rock formation at the crest of the American Falls. A coffer dam, constructed of rock and fill, was built from the mainland to the head of Goat Island, cutting off the flow of the water. The dam was completed, and the American Falls was dry on June 12 to allow the inspection to take place. The coffer dam was removed beginning on November 25 and by midnight on November 26 the water was in full flow again. In 1974, seven years of study and deliberation came to an end with the decision to let the Falls erode naturally instead of attempting any cosmetic changes that would involve the removal of talus in front of the Falls. Below is a view of the American Falls from the Skylon Tower.
Nikola Tesla developed the alternating current system in 1896. This technology was used to harness the awesome power of the Falls one can experience on a Hornblower Cruise!
A visit to Whirlpool State Park is a must when visiting Niagara Falls, Canada. The breathtaking blue-green water whips around 1,770 feet below you as you travel over the 250-foot-long gorge in the Whirlpool Aero Car. The lush greenery surrounding the Whirlpool envelopes you in a truly unique experience. When suspended over the Whirlpool you can see the Robert Moses Hydroelectric Power Station located in Lewiston, New York.
It’s important to care for our environment and use and abuse it to our own benefit. We must work with the Earth so that we may continue to live and thrive. An increase of carbon emissions is detrimental to many species. The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory houses over 2,000 butterflies in 45 different species. These exotic butterflies, many from Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Philippines, will struggle if humans do not do their part in being smart with their energy consumption.
No vacation is complete without a stunning pic of the nightlife atmosphere your destination provides!
