- The history, mystique, and allure of Niagara Falls.
- This documentary looks at the history, geology, and mystique of one of planet Earth's greatest wonders. Niagara Falls has long been a magical place, alluring and attractive, a place of extremes that draws both daredevils and engineers, honeymooners and suicides, pilgrims and dreamers. Since 1901 sixteen people have ridden over the Falls in a barrel, with five dying in the attempt. While 50,000 honeymooners visit each year, a suicide takes place about once every two weeks. The five Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the entire world's supply of fresh water, and the Niagara River, which drains four of them, is the largest river in the world by volume of water carried per mile. In the 1890s Niagara was at the center of the technological revolution in electrical power generation. Today the Falls have been thoroughly tamed--by day only 50% of the total amount of water flowing through the Niagara River goes over the Falls, dropping to 25% at night; the rest is diverted through massive hydroelectric generating stations.—yortsnave
- The program explains the geological history of the Falls and describes the attempts of many people to ride down it in a daredevil attempt for fame and survival, usually in barrels. From electrical engineer Nikola Tesla (famously played by 'David Bowie (I)' in _Prestige, The (2006)_) who used it for hydrodynamics to create power, to Dave Mundy, the first person to ride, successfully, twice over the Falls in a barrel, this video gives biographical data about several people who became important due to their fascination with Niagara Falls. Many people are interviewed, such as Captain Fletcher of the famed Niagara tour boat called "Maid of the Mist" and Wanda Wilson, a Native American who says that she derives spiritual power from the Falls. Narrator Piers Gibbon keeps a placid tone while describing the deaths of those who fell under the vast pressure of the force of the Falls; he sounds a bit more interested while recounting the histories of those pioneers who "discovered" Niagara in the frontier days of early America. Also interviewed are scientists and historians who give fascinating insights into the powerful Niagara River and the crunching terror of its Falls; and plenty of footage is also given to folks whose screams demonstrate their joy and terror at riding the rough white-waters above and below the Falls.—fkelleghan@aol.com
It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. Be the first to contribute.
Learn moreContribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content