Monday, September 3, 2012

Niagara falls

We reached Niagara falls at around 10.00am and it was a 4hrs journey from our hotel. The falls looking stunning for me. It was very beautiful. We could see rainbows over there. We got almost 3hrs to spend because it will be night when we reach NY. There will be nearly 10hrs journey back to NY. So we had to rush.
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.

From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction.

Located on the Niagara River which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and also by flow rate.[3] The falls are located 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.
A powerful diesel-engined boat will take you from the Canadian docks past the base of the American Falls, then into the basin of the magnificent Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

Steamship departures from the Canadian side of the Niagara River are located at the Maid of the Mist Plaza.  Previously the location of the Princess Elizabeth Building , the Plaza was built in 1991 and is unique in that it is set into the gorge wall, with all buildings below ground level. The large brown stone tower, covered in split brick mosaic carvings of vines, houses four high-speed elevators that take passengers down to the docks at the river’s edge.  Taking a few steps up to the top of the tower provides a wonderful panoramic view of Niagara Falls and it is a very popular location for photographers.

 At the end of your boat tour, you will enter the Maid of the Mist Plaza, which includes gift shops, a quick serve food outlet, a Welcome Center and the ticket offices for the Maid of the Mist.   A two-level outdoor Marketplace features live entertainment daily throughout the summer, fun shopping like Misty Bear's Workshop where you can stuff and dress your own bear, and lots of tasty snack items.
Every dollar you spend with Niagara Parks helps preserve the nature and heritage of the Falls and the Niagara River corridor.  Niagara Parks has operated without tax dollars since 1885. 

We had lunch there and left to NY and reached back at 10:00pm. 
 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

1000 islands,NY

We started at 8:00am from China town,NY. The climate was cloudy. We booked a package tour to visit 1000 islands and Niagara falls. It will be 10hrs journey by road. We had a breakfast in Mcdonald. Had begal, burger and coke. Neeta bought sandwich and samosa. Girish prepared parotas. So we had nice breakfast there.
When we reached 1000 islands it was 4:00pm. We went by boat to look around the islands. There are small small islands which has house or trees in it. We saw one small international bridge between NY and Canada.
About 1000 islands
The 1000 Islands Region is an international tourism destination, encompassing communities on both sides of the US and Canada border along the St. Lawrence River and the eastern shores of Lake Ontario. The region takes its name from the more than 1000 islands that dot the lake and river along this international waterway. The region extends from Kingson to Cornwall on the Canadian side, and from Oswego to Massena on the US side, reaching inland to the foothills of the Adirondack mountains to embrace the communities that are west and north of the Adirondack Park, and the four NY Counties of Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence.

The 1,864 islands range in size from over 40 square miles to smaller islands occupied by a single residence, or uninhabited outcroppings of rocks that are only home to migratory waterfowl. To count as one of the Thousand Islands these minimum criteria had to be met: 1) Above water level year round; 2) Have an area greater than 1 square foot and 3) Support at least one living tree.


We left 1000 islands and stayed in Holiday inn hotel. The next day our scheduled departure was at 7:00am. We couldn't found hotels for dinner, So we had parotas which we bought and slept nicely.