That Niagara Falls is one of the wonders of the world, every lucky one, who felt on his skin a cool spray of giant streams, thunderously falling from the rocks in a picturesque place on the border of the USA and Canada, inevitably becomes convinced.

Niagara - "rumbling water" - a waterfall falling from a height of 50 meters, a miracle of nature and a landmark of Canada and the United States. Every year, millions of tourists come to North America to see this personification of the strength and power of nature. Niagara can be seen and heard long before it appears: before you a cloud of water vapor appears and the sound of crashing water is heard.

The legendary complex of waterfalls "Horseshoe Falls", "American Falls" and "Bridal Veil Falls" is located near the five largest freshwater lakes of the world: Upper, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario and is a tourist pride prosperous sister cities of the same name-Niagara Falls, Canadian and American.

Near the waterfall are two islands - Lunar and Goat, and from the cliff the water flows three streams. Canadians are lucky, because the largest waterfall "Great Horseshoe" is located on the territory of their country. In width it reaches 800 meters. And the waterfalls "Fata Bride" and "American" took the US.

Niagara Falls - the most powerful and wide in North America. All three waterfalls have a width of more than a kilometer, a height of about 50 m.

How to get here

There are two options for arrival: from the Canadian or American sides. In the first case, the optimal flight to Toronto is about $ 1500, and before Niagara Falls get a bus that depart every 1.5-2 hours from the central bus station Toronto Coach Terminal. The ride time is about two hours. The ticket price is 15 dollars. From the Niagara Falls bus station to the Niagara Falls, a local bus runs, the journey takes about 20 minutes, the ticket price is about $ 5.

In the second case, arriving from New York, get to Buffalo, and from there to the American Niagara Falls there is a bus route 210 (40 km). The distance is small, and the ticket price is only 5-10 dollars.

At the waterfall, you can make a one-day excursion from New York, Toronto or Ottawa. The nearest airport is Buffalo (40 km)

You can see the Niagara Falls from a bird's eye view, climbing a helicopter, or "from below", swam to it on the boat. At the foot of the waterfall is the "Cave of the Winds", where tourists descend on a special elevator. Each traveler receives a raincoat and a bag for personal belongings, because Niagara can not remain dry.

Climate

The waterfall is open all year round. Summer is the best time to visit Niagara. In winter, when the temperature drops below 0 ° C, the banks and observation areas are covered with ice, and outdoor excursions are quite cool.

But in winter in Canada, near the waterfall, a festival of lights is held. Against the background of the dark sky, fireworks explode and are reflected in the streams of water and the ice belt of the waterfall.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Niagara Falls

It's best to survey a natural miracle from the Table Rock observation deck, but many prefer to do this from the deck of one of the ships of Maid of Mist, which depart every 30 minutes from both the Canadian and American coasts. These are two boats Maids VI and Maids VII, the capacity of which is 600 passengers. The cost of tickets: from the Canadian coast - $ 14.50; from the US - $ 8.90.

In addition, here is built the IMAX cinema. Travelers are introduced to the history of the waterfall, its discovery and conquest. In the building, a kind of museum was created, where objects were exhibited, on which madmen tried to overcome the waters of Niagara: someone was sailing on a boat, someone on a barrel, someone seemed to be enough of a rescue belt.

Neighborhood Niagara Falls are no less interesting than their main attraction. National parks, museums and historical monuments are located here.

In the vicinity of the waterfall, the Niagara Botanical Garden, which covers an area of ​​100 acres, is attractive. It is located 9 kilometers to the north of the waterfall, and is known for the world's largest flower clock, collected from 19 thousand flowers, with a double-yearly fragrant "dial."

Here in the Niagara greenhouse of butterflies grow tropical plants from around the world, among which about 2000 kinds of exotic butterflies from the countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia are fluttering. It maintains a humid and warm tropical climate. Here you can relax in a park with fountains, visit a decorative pond and a magnolia garden.

Further along the course of the Niagara River, you can find Queen Victoria Park, made in an antique style. Tourists come here in the spring to enjoy the cherry blossom, or in the summer, during the flowering of the rose garden. There is an observation deck, where a wonderful view of the waterfall opens.

To see the imprints of ancient earth creatures and immerse themselves in the secrets of the biology and geology of the Earth allows the natural riches of Niagara Glen - a natural park located in the depths of the canyon. Scientists have established that millions of years ago there was a huge ocean here. The fascinating world of the underground tropics, encased in the embrace of stones, granite and limestone, amazes the imagination of even sophisticated lovers of natural "unusualness."

And in the town of Niagara Falls is the famous Aviation Museum and the Wax Museum. Among his characters are heroes, conquerors of Niagara Falls. Nearby is the Museum of Politics of William Mackenzie. A part of the house is occupied by the printing house, here works the Museum of newspapers and printing equipment.