The combined waterfalls that make up the world famous Niagara Falls together form the highest flow rate of water of any falls in the world. Situated right on the Canadian/American border, the falls are made up of The Horseshoe Falls (the largest) on the Canadian side, and the American and aptly named Bridal Veil Falls (the smallest) on the American side.
The environmentally minded will find much of interest beyond the falls’ immediate beauty, however, for at peak flow, when over 5.7 million litres of water per second drop over the edge, one of greatest sources of hydroelectricity is being exploited before your very eyes.
If looking for a place to stay, then The Great Wolf Lodge boasts environmentally friendly management for the ecotourist. Project Green Wolf is an initiative to make all Great Wolf Lodge properties environmentally responsible. Things like management of fresh water resources, waste minimization, recycling and reuse, energy efficiency, environmentally and socially sensitive purchasing, and guest education help make this property sustainable fun.
In order to get a good view of all three falls at your own pace, then I can make no higher ecotourism recommendation than hiring yourself a bike and taking a leisurely pedal around the area, forever being blissfully cooled by the ever-rising sprays. Mac’s Bike Rentals and Tours is a small, family run operation with roots in Niagara Falls tourism reaching back over 60 years. With half-day rentals starting at $20 and 10% discounts available to group hires, Mac’s Bikes are not only cheap, but pump money straight back into the pockets of the local economy.
If you want to take it easy, however, then there is also the option of exploring the Niagara Falls State Park on a guided tour on the Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley. The trolleys run on environmentally friendly natural gas and are part of the park’s “Green Park Project”.
Whichever way you decide, there are plenty of sustainable and green options available to tour the falls.
Photo By #AlexWitt