Niagara Falls, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, can only be described as breath taking. No matter what time of year, whether it’s the beautiful rainbows glistening in the mist, or the magnificent ice bridge created by the cold of winter, Niagara Falls always seems to amaze it’s viewers. Schoolbooks called it one of the greatest wonders of the world, bringing to mind pictures of a far away, unattainable place. It seemed like a larger-than-life miracle of nature. As a child, I believed that Niagara Falls, like Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon were all very real attractions of the United States. I was given the facts and numbers, but never could I imagine the actual size and greatness of the falls.
This past June, I was given the opportunity to travel to Canada and see the beautiful falls with my own eyes. One of the things that amazed me was that they are right smack in the middle of a town, the town of Niagara Falls. You would think that it would be out in the middle of nowhere. As a child, I envisioned the falls as a giant rushing shower of water. I could never have imagined the great beauty and breathtaking view the falls offer.
There are several ways to view the falls, but I think the best way to observe the splendor and majesty of Niagara Falls is through a tour. Our tour guide directed us through many of the unseen attractions including the man-made tunnels behind the falls. Here, several look out points allowed us to observe the incredible speed at which the water rushed over the rocks. The water never slows down it seems to just rush and rush with no end. The water is just mesmerizing as it swirls and bubbles chaotically. Of course where we are standing you do get a little wet by the huge wall of mist, but it is well worth it. There was the distinct smell of clean air, like the way it smells early in the morning. No schoolbook could possibly give an understanding of the vastness of the falls.