And why is he so cool?

First, because there are many of them: Niagara is a whole group of three powerful waterfalls. It includes the Horseshoe, American and Fata waterfalls. Second, because they connect the United States and Canada. Above the waterfalls there is the Rainbow Bridge, which provides transport and pedestrian connections.

There are really many rainbows, you can see them even without the bright sun. Thirdly, the waterfalls have practically their own reality show — you can watch them online from several webcams at once.

Most importantly, Niagara Falls has its own character. They demand unconditional respect for personal boundaries. The waters are so stormy and fast that it is a tenth of a second to carry a person away.

The name of the river and waterfalls Niagara comes from the language of the Iroquois Indian tribes — according to one version, the translation sounds like "disintegrated land", according to the other, like "thundering water".

Legend has it that under the waterfall, the god of thunder hides his beloved girl, whom they wanted to marry off to another. And the god of thunder will definitely make sure that the stream is terrifying and eternal.

Was he really drying out?

There was a case, but not all and not by itself. And as usual, people blinded by greed are to blame for everything. Ever since the middle of the 18th century, American businessmen got excited about the idea of using the energy of falling water. By the end of the 19th, there was already a hydroelectric power station on the waterfalls, and the land around was sold for private property from both the Canadian and American sides.

The spontaneous buildings not only spoiled the natural landscapes, but also intensified the landslides under the waterfalls. For several years, public organizations for the protection of Niagara sought to stop construction and transfer the territory to the status of a protected zone. It turned out to be done only by 1950.

Then the United States and Canada signed a general agreement to preserve the natural topography of Niagara Falls. Construction was stopped, the status of land holdings was changed. But in order to demolish buildings, prevent landslides and restore the previous circulation of water through the threshold, one of them had to be temporarily drained. For several months, Niagara Falls functioned only for a third.

How to get there and what to see?

The best panoramic views of the falls are from the Canadian side, but the brightest impressions are from the American side. In Canada, you can see only the frontal side, while in the USA, tourist paths run along the rapids themselves and cliffs near the falls. Niagara Falls is located 6-7 hours from New York, in the city of Niagara Falls (in Canada, the adjacent city is called the same).

For tourists, several types of excursions are offered at once:

• In addition to viewing platforms on the slopes, you can swim up to the waterfall by boat and see a dozen rainbows at once.
• The Journey Behind the Falls attraction offers a special lift to go down directly under the waterfall into transparent tunnels.
• Near the rapids, there is a tropical butterfly museum and park, and in the evenings a light show takes place over the falls.

In fact, there are a lot of entertainment options near Niagara: from picnics with walks to exclusive excursions with the descendants of the Indians who lived there.