[Illustration: THE CANADIAN RAPIDS AND HORSESHOE FALL, FROM FALLS VIEW
STATION.
This is one of the grand views to be had from the Canadian side of
the river. The rapids, by their great descent and vastness, convey
an impressive effect to the mind, and, together with the Falls and
scenery of Victoria Park, combines to make one of the most pleasing
pictures about Niagara. The entire length of the park is traversed by
the electric cars, which are so great a convenience about Niagara, for
tourists.]
[Illustration: AMERICAN FALL FROM CANADIAN SIDE.
Standing in Victoria Park, one gets a full front view of the American
Fall, while at the right of the scene is Center Fall, flowing between
Luna and Goat Islands. The American Fall has a width of 1,000 feet, a
height of 158 feet, while the Rapids above descend forty feet in a half
mile. All visitors should go to the Canadian side for the Canadian Fall
and Rapids, the most imposing features of the Falls, are there best
seen with their wonderful rainbow and mist effects, while the beauties
of Victoria Park itself well repay a visit.]
[Illustration: THE GORGE.
The life work of Niagara River has been and continues to be the digging
of the Niagara Gorge through which it flows. Those who have studied the
subject thoroughly have reached the conclusion that the great trench
was excavated by the running of the river itself. In its length, the
gorge is in one sense a measure of the age of the river.]
[Illustration: SCENE ON THE “GORGE ROUTE.”
This Electric road runs along the New York Shore, for much of the way,
about twenty feet up from the water, and affords unequaled views of the
Whirlpool Rapids, the great bridge and cliffs, the Whirlpool and all
scenic features. The objects of interest along the Gorge Route are only
second to the two great cataracts themselves.]
[Illustration: HORSESHOE OR CANADIAN FALL IN WINTER.
The intensity of the mighty grasp of winter is at no point better
portrayed than in its effects on the Horseshoe Fall. Gradually the
waters are chilled and frozen until where yesterday the river plunged
over the precipice in gleeful, laughing manner, huge stalactites of ice
are hung reaching from the cliff-top to the slope below.]
[Illustration: ICE FORMATION AT CAVE OF THE WINDS.
In February, 1896, for a period of four days, the Cave of the Winds
was dry, the water of the Fall being kept back by the ice formation.
Visitors sought the cavern and roamed about admiring the icy scenes on
every side. The photograph for the picture above was then made, and it
may never be possible to obtain the same again.]
[Illustration: UPPER STEEL ARCH BRIDGE.
This wonderful example of man’s handiwork connects the extreme lower
points of Prospect Park on the American side, with Victoria Park on the
Canadian side. It has a single deck, is 1,268 feet long, 49 feet wide
and 190 feet above the water, and was built in 1898. Splendid views are
had from this bridge.]
[Illustration: THE ICE PALACE.
The Ice Palace, a thing of beauty in the production of which man
essayed to supplement Nature, was erected in the State Reservation in
the winter of 1898. “An area of 120 by 160 feet was covered by its
gleaming walls of crystal. The entire structure was gay with bunting
and flags by day and brilliant with electrical illumination by night.”]
[Illustration: BRIDGES AT NIAGARA.