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Seven Wonders of Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario
NIAGARA FALLS! Stupendous, beautiful,
Enduring monument of the Power Divine!
Thy white-foam pillars ever moving stand,
And ever standing move harmoniously
To the rough music of the dashing spray,
And roaring tumult of thy boiling base.
- From “Niagara Falls: A Poem in Three Cantos’ by James K. Liston, 1843.
Born around 12,000 years ago, Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River, on the border between Canada and the United States.
The Falls are comprised of three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. The crescent-shaped Horseshoe Falls is also known as the Canadian Falls as it is located mostly on the Canadian side of the border.
The residents of Niagara Falls were among the most passionate and vocal participants in the 7 Wonders of Canada project. After appearing on Sounds Like Canada and The National, Westlane Secondary student Becky Puddicombe became a local celebrity, receiving a job offer from the Niagara Parks Commission and the Key to the City from the mayor. One opinion piece in the Niagara Falls Review newspaper compared the CBC’s selection process to the 2004 presidential election in Florida.
Judges' Comments
Judges' Comments (0:19)
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Audio Nominations
Becky (0:27)
George (0:18)
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Email Nominations
Editorial from the Niagara Falls Review, June 1, 2007
“The falls are something that too often people who live here take for granted. Everything else this city has to offer, from casino gambling to wax museums and a host of other attractions, comes second. It's the falls that people want to see…. People travel thousands of miles to view this awe-inspiring work of nature. And while we can all be proud of what this city has to offer the world, it also highlights a never-ending challenge facing us all. The falls has to be protected and kept in a natural state at all costs.
William Leyer
The falls are by far the most awe inspiring sight in Canada.
Colleen Shea
It truly is a majestic sight! I have flown over the Falls in a helicopter, walked under the Falls in the tunnels, and strolled along the Parkway beside the Falls. Each and every time, I still find it breath-taking.
Susan Cameron
I nominate the fact that there aren't more accidents resulting from falling over the railing. I have been to the falls as a parent of young children and at ages 2,3,4 and 5 I have a picture of them standing on the stone part of the railing and hanging onto the iron part of the railing. I know I am one of thousands who have a similar picture. Sometimes it is very icy on the viewing places and nobody falls over the railing. Why not? Maybe because as human beings we are more cautious where there is potential danger. It has always interested me, the more dangerous a situation the more caution we use. Any traffic way that has been 'upgraded' to be safer seems to have more accidents, maybe because we feel the need for caution isn't there. Have a good one.
Kerry Spurrell
While we try to harness the power of this great body of water, its impressive force is overpowering.
Frank Serra
Majestic, powerful, natural. A place where people gather from around the world to take in its simple beauty. We feel lucky when we watch because we feel its mystic power, its gentle fury, its thunderous music. But what's wondrous of it all is that we come face to face with mother nature at her finest.”
Kathryn Swayze
How can we talk about the Falls without mentioning how wonderful they are in the WINTER. The ice bridge is a marvel, but nothing tops the sun shining on the ice created by the mist. A real fairy land.
Brian Evans
It's just such a beautiful and unique natural feature. It's an internationally recognized unique biosphere that is almost completely unappreciated by many people that live in Southern Ontario. It needs to be recognized because it is taken for granted so often by the people that live within its shadow.
John Black
A nexus point for North American culture - truly a shared wonder with our neighbours from the US, an aspect which can symbolize Canada within North America. It's also a place to witness the majesty and interconnectedness of the entire Great Lakes region with the volume of water flowing from the lakes out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Ryan
On a summer's day, the view from Queenston Heights (where Laura Secord made her historic trek) is amazing. You can look out over the entire Niagara Peninsula with its orchards and wineries, out to Lake Ontario and even across the lake to the Toronto skyline. Rural and urban together in picturesque harmony. Could anything be more Canadian?
Les Gulyban
It's a natural year round show...from the intense sound of the cascading waters, to the wonderful rainbow on a sunny day formed by the mist.
Heather Henry
When you stand gazing at this powerful water flow, you can't help but think of how beautiful it is. I reside nearby, and I visit the Falls many times each year, just to enjoy them, along with thousands of worldwide visitors.
Linda Buschmann
Here in Niagara we revel in the cool mist spraying from our three beautiful falls. And if you need to believe in rainbows, we have them day and night. Every minute millions of litres of water rush to join the great lakes together and in the winter, the trees around the Falls are diamond bright crystal wonders.
Did You Know?
- Niagara Falls is sometimes referred to as a ‘cataract’, a traditional term for large waterfalls derived from the Greek word kataraktes, meaning something that is rushing or swooping down.
- Over 1-million bathtubs of water flow over the Falls every minute.
- The Maid of the Mist boat has been carrying visitors, including heads of state and movie stars, below the Falls since 1846. There is now a small fleet of the boats to accommodate the tourist trade.
- It’s estimated that 16 daredevils have gone over the Falls and five have died. Some have even gone over twice.
- Niagara Falls’ daytime rainbows are famous, but the cataract also boast nighttime 'lunar' rainbows.