Niagara: Thunder of the Waters

Native Americans dubbed the falls at Niagara "the thunder of the waters." Niagara Falls forms part of the Great Lakes system, where Superior, Huron, and Erie collect, then tumble towards sister lake, Ontario. Neither the world's largest nor most powerful falls, it has still seized the imagination of many, notably Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens, who both visited and described the area's natural splendor. The Niagara region was the scene of bitter territorial conflicts during the War of 1812, and the battles between the British and the new United States soon gave way to skirmishes over commercial exploitation of the falls. Early entrepreneurs built hotels, extended railroads, and cut paths down to the scenic river pools and glens. Eventually, however, preservationists on both sides of the international border prevailed, and several thousand acres were purchased and set aside to be forever wild. Although the area's rich diversity of wildlife has diminished with time, Niagara Falls still offers nature, history, and outstanding views. This video displays Niagara's beauty in all seasons, while providing a lively and informative popular history, and clearly demonstrating why we need to preserve nature's wild places. A fine purchase for libraries in the New York-Ontario region, this is also recommended as a solid choice for general travel collections. Aud: P. (S. Rees)