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Do I need a passport to cross the border?
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questions).
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For US citizens traveling to Canada
by car and returning home: Adults are required to have
documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card,
a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an
enhanced driver's license. Bring proof of citizenship for any
accompanying children.
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For Canadian citizens traveling to
the US by car and returning home: Adults are required to have
documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card,
a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an
enhanced driver's license. Bring proof of citizenship for any
accompanying children.
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For more information:
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US citizens should visit the Department
of Homeland Security's web site for
Crossing US Border.
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Canadian citizens should visit the Canadian Border Services Agency's
web site for
Traveling to the US.
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If you have specific questions, try asking in our
message board.
Prepare for crossing the border by
car:
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 Have proof of citizenship (passport
or enhanced State ID) ready to hand to the officer. Make sure
everyone, including children have proof of citizenship.
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If bringing someone else's children
across the border, bring a note from their legal guardian explaining
that you have permission to take them across the border.
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Turn off radios and cellular phones
when talking to border agents. Don't joke around.
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Make sure all prescriptions dugs have
appropriate prescriptions labels.
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Declare souvenirs as items acquired
for personal use.
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Declare all fruits, vegetables,
plants, animals, birds, eggs, and meat products.
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Declare all alcohol and tobacco
products.
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Declare all firearms.
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Dogs older than three months must
have proof of a rabies vaccination.
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Agents searching vehicles is a common
occurrence. A tidy vehicle is make for a quicker search.
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Where did the name Niagara come from?
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questions).
 When European first
explored the Great Lakes basin, the
tribe of the "thundering waters" were the inhabitants of the Niagara
region. Although their actual name has been long forgotten, they were
referred to as "Ongniaahra" by the Iroquois Nation of which they were apart of.
French settlers referred to them as the "Neutrals," referring
to their
position in the Nation as mediators between tribes.
When European explorers began mapping the
Great Lakes basins, they used accounts from local tribes to fill in
gaps. It is speculated that eastern tribes may have described the
Niagara region by referencing the Neutral tribe by their Iroquois name:
"Ongniaahra." Like with many Native American names, it was subsequently
"basterdized" by map makers and eventually became Niagara.
It is not known whether or not "Ongniaahra"
was the original name for the region or for its inhabitants. The
Neutrals were wiped out by 1653 during a tribal war with the Seneca
tribe.
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How tall are Niagara Falls, really?
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questions).
If you read several Niagara Falls
informational placards, books and visitor's guides, you're bound to
notice that many of them have different values for the height of
the Falls. Which one is correct? Actually, all of them. Since
the water flowing over the Falls is highly variable, depending on how
much is diverted for power generation as well as seasonal flow, the
depth of the water at the crest of the falls, as well as the water level
at the pool below can vary, affecting the overall size of the Falls.
During peak tourist season, when the Falls see high volumes of water,
there is a slight bump in elevation, as the depth of water at the crest
increases by several feet, but this is offset greatly by an increase of
water in the pool at the base. So as the water flow increases, the
height of the fall decreases.
|
Water flow |
American Falls
approx. height |
Horseshoe Falls
approx. height |
|
Off peak
(day/night): |
194 ft (59 m) |
158 ft (48 m) |
|
Peak
tourist season (day): |
183 ft (56 m) |
173 ft (53 m) |
|
Peak
tourist season (night): |
194 ft (59 m) |
158 ft (48 m) |
|
Full,
natural flow: |
168 ft (51 m) |
184 ft (56 m) |
| Source:
American Falls International Board |
There are several other reasons to
consider. Some people measure to the boulders below, which in the case
of the American Falls, can reduce the total height significantly. Some
measure to the river's water level in the pool, while others take the
distance to the bottom of the pool. Many numbers are rounded,
distorted by heresy, or just estimated incorrectly.
Take a look at the diagrams below to get
an idea of the size of the falls during a typical summer day:
|
Horseshoe Falls |
 |
| |
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American & Bridal Veil Falls |
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