Niagara (2) the American Falls

June 3, 2025 / 8 Comments

(Above: the departure dock – downstream of the two waterfalls – lies in a steep gorge that can be entered on foot or by cable car)

The lower basin of Niagara Falls, from which the water-borne tours originate, can be approached in many ways; some more expensive than others!

(Above: the efficient entry to the tour ships)

Most visitors arrive on foot, being funnelled into the large and streamlined ticketing system, which culminates with the issuing of the ubiquitous red plastic raincoats that are recycled at the end of tbe trip.

(Above: The boat fills up. From here on it’s a wet journey!)

Niagara comprises two giant waterfalls. They lie along the border between the two countries, the USA and Canada.

Both are spectacular, but the Canadian falls – the farthest from the ferry point – are curved in a giant half-horseshoe and are simply a ‘bigger experience’.

Both falls are visited by the standard boat tours so there is no need to choose between them.

(Above: one of the two tour boats approaching the American falls)

The American falls are more easily seen from the descending road above, whose foliage often obscures the larger horseshoe of the Canadian falls. This makes the size of the Canadian horseshoe a shock and a surprise when you finally get to them by water.

(Red-plastic suited, we are ready to depart)

Now red-suited passengers, we take our places on the tour boat, filling the upper deck. The boat casts off and we enter the perpetual mist that issues from the base of the American falls. Almost immediately, the volume of noise increases and we get a clearer view of the grandeur ahead.

(Above: the American Falls in its full glory)

To our left is a giant structure whose fine detail is unclear, as though there were small ‘spikes’ on the upper surfaces. As we get closer, this resolves itself into hundreds of tiny human figures moving up and down a series of viewing platforms.

(Above: the viewing platforms on the American side of the falls. Note the tiny figures!)

Minutes later, and closer to the American bank, we look up through the thick mist and see a series of smaller falls with walkways close to the down-flow of water. In other locations each of these would be noteworthy.

(Above: more tiny figures around an accessible part of the American falls)

(Above: the thunder of the American falls begins to quieten, giving way to a deeper rumble from our right)

The boat makes a slow arc around the base of the falls, then heads back out into deeper waters. The noise changes, and there is an increasing sense of anticipation…

We round a headland and the mist once again thickens. For a few seconds, most of the passengers fall silent, taking in the new vista…

Then…

To be continued.