If you haven't already, join the thousands captivated by one of the largest volume waterfalls in the world, the legendary Niagara Falls. Whether you choose to view the raw power of the Niagara as something to worship or as a challenge to conquer, you'll find that both the native tribes of the area and the daredevils that have gone over its rim, the Niagara Falls represent facing the thunder.
Niagara is a Native American name that means thundering waters. The Native Americans of the Six Nations tell one of Niagara's most enduring and often misinterpreted legends: the Maid of the Mist. Empathize with the young woman who married three times with each of her husbands dying a short time later. Despairing that something about her was killing her husbands, she cast off in a canoe to find the oblivion below the falls. But instead of being dashed to the rocks below, her canoe drifted slowly down the falls, until it came to rest outside the cave of the Thunder People.
The Thunder had inspired the people since the beginning, but the people had forgotten about the Thunder, choosing not to listen. The Thunder People helped the young woman from the boat and listened to her story. They then had her stand over the fire, and as she did so, a snake-like creature fell from her dress. Cured of her problem, the Maid of the Mist was able to return to her people and raise a family.
Today, the Maid of the Mist is a six-hundred-passenger tour boat offering you a first-hand experience of the falls. Feel the force of the falls and the spray in your face as you approach the rushing waters of Horseshoe Falls.
Surviving the drop over Niagara is what legends are made of. Visit Daredevil Hall of Fame in nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to glimpse into the lives of those who attempted the feat. Annie Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher, began a trend as the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. While her national fame and fortune was short-lived, she was the first of a long line of daredevils to challenge the falls, whether in barrels or on tightropes. Peruse the Daredevil Hall of Fame, which chronicles their adventures and displays the most complete collection of daredevil barrels recovered from Niagara Falls. But don't get any ideas; the most recent daredevil team was fined $2,300.00 and banned from entering Canada for life.
Whether you are living the legend or a daredevil taking the drop, you'll find that those who experience Niagara Falls come away knowing the power of thunder.
