A WET AND WILD RIDE: MAID OF THE MIST, NIAGARA FALLSJul 12 '05 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line One of those must do things when visiting Niagara. The first thing you realize is that they handed you a raincoat prior to boarding for a reason. No doubt about it you’re going to get wet on this trip there’s just no escaping it. Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular sites in the world, and millions of people that have witnessed its magnificence. There are many ways to view this natural wonder of the world but perhaps the best is literally from the bottom up. For over 150 years the Maid of the Mist has taken visitors as close to the falls as one can possibly get without a barrel. The first vessel to bear the name was a steam powered paddle wheeler, which began ferrying passengers to the base of the cataract in 1846. Now there are four vessels bearing the name (each with a roman numeral) making regular sojourns from the docks on the US and Canadian sides down river from the falls. The name Maid of the Mist comes from the legends of the native Ongiaras who lived beside the Niagara River. According to the legend members of the tribe were dying for an unknown reason. It was decided by tribal elders to offer a gift to the Thunder God Hinum, who lived with his two sons in a cave behind the Falls in order to stop these deaths. Gifts of fruit and flowers were offered and failed so it was decided to sacrifice a maiden of the tribe. Lelawala the daughter of Chief Eagle Eye was chosen. On the appointed day after an appropriate ceremony Lelawala stepped into a white birch bark canoe and plunged over the falls to her death. Her father, heartbroken, leaped into his canoe and followed her. Hinum's two sons caught Lelawala in their arms, as each desired her. She promised to accept the one who told her what evil was killing her people. The younger brother told her of a giant water serpent that lay at the bottom of the river. Once a year, the monster snake grew hungry, and at night entered the village and poisoned the water. The serpenmt then devoured the dead. Lelawala returned as a spirit and told her people to destroy the serpent. The tribe mortally wounded the serpent on his next yearly visit to the village. Returning to his lair on the river to die, the serpent caught his head on one side of the river and his tail on the other, forming a semi-circle and the brink of the Horseshoe Falls. Lelawala returned to the cave of the God Hinum, where she reigns to this day as the Maid of the Mist. Over the years many famous passengers have sailed on the Maid of the Mist including numerous celebrities and world leaders. President Teddy Roosevelt called it “the only way to fully realize the grandeur of the Great Falls of Niagara". Most passengers choose to book a round trip passage, however that is not always the case. Perhaps one of the most famous passengers to ride on the Maid of the Mist never intended to that day and never bought a ticket. On July 9, 1960 seven year old Roger Woodward was out on the Niagara River above the falls with his sister and a family friend when their boat capsized. Wearing only a life jacket he was quickly swept over the Horseshoe Falls. The captain of the Maid of the Mist spotted the orange life jacket in the turbulent waters at the base of the falls and the frightened but otherwise unharmed young boy was quickly pulled aboard. Most people these days prefer to board one the four Maids of the Mists in a more conventional manner. The docks on the Canadian Side are located at the base of Clifton Hill. Those on the American side almost directly opposite at the Observation Tower. A series of ramped walkways and high speed elevators quickly take you down to river level where you board the double decked vessels. It’s first come first served and most try to get a good vantage point on the open upper deck. Not to worry though the view is just as spectacular from the lower deck, you get that close to the falls. Vessels depart on a fairly regular schedule and the whole journey takes about 30 minutes so the wait usually isn’t too long. First stop is the base of the American Falls or the Bridal Veil. After a few minutes literally looking up at tons of water crashing on the rocks you continue up river to the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls. If you didn’t put that complimentary rain coat on prior to boarding it’s too late now. The spray from the falls soon covers everyone and everything in a fine mist which on a hot summer day can actually be refreshing. Naturally a camera or video cam is a must here and it may be a good idea to wrap it in plastic. The captain use his years of experience to gently ease the Maid of the Mist along the base of the Horseshoe Falls, allowing all aboard a chance to appreciate the spectacular view. All too soon the ship returns to the dock. Then you can ascend and enjoy the rest of Niagara’s attractions, after drying off of course. The Maid of the Mist operates Daily from mid April to mid October depending on weather. Admission is $13.00 Canadian $11.50 US, including complimentary rain wear, with discounts for children and groups. For further information including full hours of operation: http://www.niagarafallslive.com or http://www.infoniagara.com  |
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