Niagara Falls Canada are a popular destination and are considered a wonder of nature. The falls are indeed stunning, but it made me sad to see how exploited and commercialized they are.
I admit it, maybe it was my fault. I had very high expectations of the Niagara Falls. I had heard so much and I had seen so many beautiful pictures, that I had idealized it before getting there. I had created in my mind an image that was not real. And when I saw the reality, well… I felt so sad that I wanted to cry.
Let me explain. I had imagined it as a kind of North American version of the Iguazú Falls. I had been in Iguazú, at the border of Argentina and Brazil, in 2012, and I totally fell in love with it.
Iguazú Falls are in a very well preserved National Park. There are walking trails that allow you to enjoy the nature and you might even get a glimpse of animals. It’s beautiful and tropical, the forest is lush green with palm trees and the power of the falls is overwhelming.
I don’t know why, but I thought Niagara Falls in Canada would be something similar.
Niagara Falls, wonder of nature
I must also say that when I heard that access to nature in Canada was free I was really impressed. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, the Niagara Falls are one of the most visited sites in the country. And they are free!
Iguazú Falls were wonderful, but you had to pay to access the National Park. I don’t really remember the price but it wasn’t cheap, at least compared to the cost of traveling in Argentina in 2012.
I admired Canada for not trying to make money from nature.
I was impressed until I saw the place with my own eyes, that is.
Niagara Falls, an exploited wonder of nature
All this to say that I arrived to Niagara Falls in Canada expecting a National Park. I was expecting trees and trails and nature around the falls. But there was no National Park.
In fact, the bus drove directly to the falls. The road gets right to the falls. You just drive there, you don’t walk there. That was the first surprise.
The second surprise were the buildings. Right next to the road, right next to the falls. Those huge four and five star hotels. The casino.
Wait, what? A casino?? Next to a wonder of nature??
That’s definitely not how I had imaged it. And thinking that I admired Canada for not charging an entry fee! I felt a lump in the throat.
It was very crowded, but that was expected. It was summer, it was high season, and it’s a popular destination.
While we made the queue for the boat tour around the falls, we all got a waterproof plastic cover.
I understand the use of the plastic cover, of course, you really get wet when the boat approaches the falls.
But I did not want to count how many people were there at that precise moment. How many people would take the tour that same day. How many people got a plastic cover every month, every year.
I just hoped they recycle them.
I didn’t want to look either at the color of the water around the boat quay.
Once I was on the boat I got a storm of emotions. I wanted to smile and at the same time I wanted to cry.
In front of me I had a wonder of nature, a breathtaking sight that reminded me that nature is wise, and powerful. I’d have liked to see the face of the explorers who discovered the falls for the first time. The sight must have been stunning, overwhelming.
In front of me I also had the skyline of the huge buildings. Where there should be trees there were hotels. Where three should be wild animals there were cars and buses. My heart sank.
Once more I remembered the Iguazú Falls, and wished with all my heart that it always remains a National Park. I’ll happily pay the entry fee as far as the nature gets preserved.
It’s already too late for the Niagara Falls, but please, please, don’t let this happen to the other wonders of nature that still exist in the world.
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it’s so sad! 🙁
we tourists ruin the place we visit.
what can we do about it?
It’s a complex issue, but I think the answer to that is responsible tourism.
We, as tourists, can decide how we want to visit a place and which kind of businesses we want to support (by spending money in them). We can chose to sleep in a multinational hotel chain or to stay in a local guesthouse, for example. And go to places / do activities which are responsible with the environment.
For example, in Niagara: if nobody had ever spent the night in the first hotel that was built, there wouldn’t be so many today. If there is a casino, it’s because people actually go there.
I believe we can keep traveling, but in a responsible way 🙂
Totally! I’m Canadian – and Niagara Falls is the most blatantly commercial tourist spot in the whole country. It’s crap, was even 20 years ago when I last went.
Believe me, we Canadians have some incredible national parks. Lots of nature and really large tracts of undeveloped land. Niagara Falls not one of those places.
Frank (bbqboy)
I do believe you! I only spent two weeks in Canada (a ridiculous short time in such a big country) but I did see lot of nature which is well preserved, and I’m sure there is much more in the country.
It’s sad what happened to Niagara Falls but let’s hope it won’t happen again.
Wow laia, this surprised me a lot !!! I didn´t know about the casino in the Niagara falls :O
It is known that Canada has the habit of exploiting the natural resources not only of his
country, besides other countries of latinoamerica. In fact in colombia bought the
government to exploit the mining industry of colombia
Regards !
Wow Carolina, you did surprise me! I didn’t know about Canada and Colombia…
I did know that some countries exploit others, and it makes me sad every time I hear it 🙁
Regards
Uff, it’s so sad! ?
However, I recognize that this situation does not surprise me.
I have seen the same in different parts of the world: Spain, Italy, Latin America, Egypt and much more.
This is the result when the main purpose is make money.
It’s a pity 🙁
Yes, you’re right, as you say this has happened in other places as well. Many villages in the Spanish coast are a sad example of that 🙁
It’s sad that making money becomes more important than environment. I believe it’s started to change. Let’s hope that for the future there will be more conscience and the natural places that remain will be saved.
Two years ago I was there and I loved the place, it is certainly not what it should be like say where hotels should have trees is a shame as the evolution ends with everything natural and beautiful in the world.
Still, I found the place amazing 🙂
Haha Diana thanks for giving a positive view!
I agree that the waterfalls itself are stunning.
If only the hotels and casino were not there it would be a perfect spot 😉
Es muy triste ver como un lugar tan hermoso y lleno de vida pueda irse perdiendo gracias a la avaricia del hombre que sí, piensa en el progreso, pero también olvida que la naturaleza es una parte importante para todos nosotros. Me da mucha pena que en este lugar estén pasando estas cosas, espero poder verlo antes d que quede en nada (espero no pase claro)
Si, es muy triste ver que el dinero pasa por delante de la naturaleza y el medio ambiente 🙁
Supongo que ahora ya no irá a peor, pero tampoco irá a mejor, ya no hay marcha atrás.
Did you cross to the American side? You should explore parts around the falls, they are much better in preserving nature. Goat island is wonderful, as well as whirlpool.
No, I didn’t have a lot of time so I couldn’t cross to the American side. Good to hear that nature is better preserved in that side! Thanks for the tips about Goat island and Whirlpool, should go again to visit them!
The American side is more natural. Beautiful Park. I moved to Niagara, Canada 5 years ago from Nova Scotia, Canada. There are lots of walking areas in Niagara. The Niagara gorge, the Bruce trail that goes the length of the escarpment. The Niagara Parkway is a beauty drive. These are free. You must understand that Niagara Falls is a tourist area, and that it is used for water, and water driven power. One click online would show you it’s a tourist area, and you could have found ways to appreciate the beauty with a few more clicks. Sorry you were disappointed. Also 30 min away from Niagara Falls is the city of hamilton, which is known for having the most waterfalls (over 100) in one region. It’s very beautiful, and the waterfalls are a “nature atrraction” not a tourist attraction.
Hello Shelley! Thanks a lot for your insight about the region! It was a short trip, so it’s true that I didn’t have the time to truly explore the other side and stayed in the touristic area in Canada. I’m happy to hear that there are a lot of walking areas and the waterfalls in Hamilton sound great. I’ll definitely explore more (and better!) if I travel again in the region 🙂