Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls / Horseshoe Falls

North America's most famous waterfall complex. The Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side are about 790 meters wide with a 57-meter drop, and a boat ride into the spray at their base is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Niagara Falls consists of three falls: the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side (about 790 meters wide, with a drop of about 57 meters), and on the American side, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Niagara River carries water from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. In summer, the daytime flow is about 2,800 cubic meters per second; some water is diverted for power generation at night and in winter. The Canadian side has the best views. Along the riverside promenade of Niagara Parkway (Queen Victoria Park), you can see all three falls head-on, and walking to the Table Rock plaza at the edge of the Horseshoe Falls puts you right where the water pours past your feet. Must-do activities: (1) Niagara City Cruises on the Canadian side (about C$35, red raincoats), which sails into the curved spray of the Horseshoe Falls for about 20 minutes. The American operator, Maid of the Mist, uses blue raincoats. (2) Journey Behind the Falls, which takes an elevator down to tunnels and observation platforms behind the falls. (3) A 236-meter view from the Skylon Tower. (4) The underground tunnel converted from the Niagara Parks power station, leading down to the riverbank (a new attraction). After dark the falls are lit with colored lights, and on summer weekends and holidays fireworks go off around 10 p.m. Next to the falls, Clifton Hill is an amusement street of Ferris wheels, wax museums and haunted houses. It is a bit kitschy but suitable for families. The Niagara Parks Adventure Pass can save money. The falls are about 130 km from Toronto. Note: Chinese travelers who cross the Rainbow Bridge to the American side need a separate US visa.

Niagara Falls

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby