Tourist Attraction or a Place of Natural

¶ … tourist attraction or a place of natural beauty: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a strange, paradoxical place. On one hand, it is a famous tourist attraction for honeymooners. Upon first glance, it is immediately obvious that the location is marketed much like the Empire State Building, the Eifel Tower, or any other sort of man-made tourist attraction. There is a gift shop near the Falls where one can buy pens, pencils, and other souvenirs. Yet all of this does not detract from the awesome power and raw beauty of nature exhibited by the Falls itself. Although the Falls is marketed and positioned like any other place designed to attract revenue to the area from tourists, it is still a worthwhile attraction.

At first glance, Niagara Falls is a sheer, overwhelming sheet of water. Even on the driest day, a visitor can feel the mist of the water on his or her tongue and in the air because of its propulsive power. The feeling of the power of the water going over the steep drop is almost visceral. When you are close by, you can feel the water's energy through the ground, which seems to vibrate. The rush of the water is deafening and drowns out the voice of anyone who tries to speak above its roar.

One of the most exciting features of the tourist attraction is a strategically-situated area where visitors can stand in an enclosed area beneath the Falls, and literally watch the Falls from behind a wall of water. The water is white, rushing, and opaque as it pours down. It was thrilling to stand so close to the power of nature.

This desire to harness the power of the Falls, of course, has led many people to do very foolish things. In the nearby museum of the history of Niagara Falls, the different attempts to go over the Falls in a barrel are chronicled through pictures. These attempts are not myths, but happened in actual fact. As I stared at the sheer drop of the water pouring down and reflected upon the strength of the current, it was astonishing to me that anyone would ever attempt to do this. Yet people did -- and survived. As well as providing a place for daredevils to show off, the museum also related that the Falls has a very important function in providing a source of renewable power to the area.

Niagara Falls offers a number of services to tourists, including a boat tour of the Falls and a nearby park filled with woods and scenes of natural beauty where tourists can walk. This enables people to feel as if they are getting close to the power of nature in a safe and accessible fashion. But perhaps the most pleasant way to enjoy the Falls is simply to sit on a park bench near a drop, and stare at its majesty. It is hard to believe that something so awesome has been contained by the forces of tourism and progress and is so accessible from nearby 'civilization.'