da Falls!

Niagara Falls, New York
August 3, 2006, my birthday 53 years
A great day, seeing the mighty force and energy of Niagara Falls, walking to gauntlet of American diversions to spend money before you get there, on to the views and history of the falls, dodging families, no restraints on me, Awe is all I can say. The American side is done nicely, its about the environment, history, facts and surroundngs of the falls area, were as the Canadian side has two faces, great views looking back at the falls and its commercial Disney attraction features, and its very crowded, why would you to come to see one of the wonders of the world, then wish to go to Ripley’s Believe or it, believes it, it right here with no gimmickries, nature, but then they do sell Cuban Cigars, I was also told to bring my birth certificate next time when crossing into Canada next time. Going on the boat ride into the falls was a Blast, good luck trying to take a picture down there, just get wet! Walk it, the sounds of this great wonder, how the birds just fly over, then down , nothing special, just nature, then mediate on the power and beauty of Mother Nature. She has be doing these before we got here. PS, what's with all the rain, this is summertime, and its not Oregon, so Darling, quit with the rain, please.
A spectacular display.
Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border and both in the Province of Ontario and the State of New York, Niagara Falls attracts some 12 Million tourists to her majestic awesome beauty each year.
The Niagara is a fairly young river, only 12,000 years old!, a microsecond in geological time. The Niagara Escarpment, which was created by erosion is much older. The glaciers pressed down on the land during the last ice age and laid down layers of sediment, then the slow process of erosion of ice and water ate at the surface of the escarpment.
The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.
One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over the falls.
At the bottom of the falls, the water travels 15 miles over many gorges until it reaches the fifth Great Lake-Ontario. The land between the lakes does not slope at an even grade, but forms a spectacular drop approximately the same height as a 20 story building and this is known as the "Niagara Escarpment" Two billion years ago it was buried under a blanket of ice.
As the years past, the process of erosion took place, (and still does) five distinct 'gorges' were formed-Lewiston Brange Gorge, Old Narrow Gorge, Upper & Lower Great Gorges and the Whirlpool Narrow Gorge.
Approximately 500 years ago the river encountered an obstacle that caused it to 'split into two channels', thus Goat Island was formed named after John Stedman whose goat herds froze to death in the winter of 1780). This was the original sediment left from a vanished Lake Tonawanda (an Indian name).
On the eastern part of the island, the American Falls took shape, the Horseshoe Falls, is on the western side, where the river angles some 90 degrees.
American Falls & Veil Falls have a crestline of 1100 feet, height 176 feet, summertime flow of 75,000 gal/sec, pass Terrapin Point, Horseshoe Falls has a crestline of 2500 feet, height of 167 feet, with a summer flow of 675,000 gal/second. The water flow on the American side of the falls is much less in strength because of Goat Island, whereas Horseshoe Falls has no obstruction to divert it.
It should be noted that a third much narrower falls exists. Over the years these falls have been called at different times; Luna Falls, Iris Falls and is currently named Bridal Veil Falls.Man has not been able to completely control the flow of the water over the falls, even modern engineers have tried. Much of the water today is fed through underground channels and pipes to nearby hydro electric power stations.

DAREDEVILS OF NIAGARA FALLS
October 24th 1901
Annie Taylor was the first person to conquer the falls in a barrel. After climbing inside her airtight wooden barrel, the air pressure was compressed to 30 p.s.i. with a bicycle pump.
Though bruised and battered Annie made it, she expected fame and fortune.
Annie died in poverty.

July 25th 1911
The infamous Bobby Leach plunged over the Falls in a steel barrel. Bobby broke both kneecaps and his jaw during his daring event. Years later while touring in New Zealand, Bobby slipped on an orange peel and died from complications due to gangrene !
July 11th 1920
Englishman Charles G. Stephens equipped his wooden barrel with an anvil for ballast. Charles tied himself to the anvil for security. After the plunge, Chucks right arm was the only item left in the barrel.
July 4th 1928
"Smiling Jean" Lussier survived the trip over the brink in a large rubber ball
July 5th 1930
A Greek waiter named George L. Statakis suffocated to death after his barrel was trapped behind the falls for more than 14 hours.
June 30th 1961
Nathan Boya drops off the brink in a ball-like contraption.
July 3rd 1984
The first Canadian to conquer the Falls was Karel Soucek. Karel survived the plunge, but later that year Karel was killed while recreating the drop from a platform inside the Houston Astrodome. (Karel's barrel hit the edge of the water tank)
August 18th 1985
A Rhode Island bartender named Steven Trotter made the trip in a barrel wrapped in inner tubes. Steven was fined a total of $5,503.00
October 5th 1985
A Canadian mechanic John "Super Dave" Munday made a successful trip in his barrel. Dave could not get enough! He made a second successful trip on September 26th 1993.
September 28th 1989
Niagara Falls Ontario residents
Peter De Bernardi and Jeffery
James Petkovich accomplished
the first duo descent of the Falls.
October 1st 1995
Robert Overcracker rides a jetski over the brink of the Horseshoe Falls to help promote awareness for the homeless. His parachute did not open and Robert ended up promoting better parachutes. He plunged to his death and his body was never recovered.
June 18th 1995
Steve Trotter returns to the Falls again to make his second attempt. This time with a partner, Lori Martin a caterer from Georgia. They were the first male and female to make the big drop together !
October 22nd 2003
Kirk Jones from Canton Michigan becomes first stunter in the history of Niagara Falls to survive the plunge wearing only the clothes on his back. Kirk's idea had been in the works for a number of years. While here on a visit with a friend, Kirk made the decision. They purchased a used video camera to record this historical event and went to the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of the river. Kirk entered the water about one hundred yards upstream and began swimming out into the swift current. Eight seconds later Kirk made the 175 foot drop and swam to shore while passing up a free ride with the "maid of the mist" tour boat. Kirk was treated for minor bumps and bruises at local a hospital and released only after promising to return for court. For his stunt Kirk was fined a total of $2,300.00 dollars and banned from entering Canada for life. Kirk is now wrapping up a stint with a US circus and plans on writing a book about his ordeal. Unfortunately Kirk and his friend had been imbibing in alcohol before the stunt and Kirks friend couldn't figure out how to work the camcorder and entire stunt went unrecorded!