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Straddling the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls has carefully balanced recreational, commercial, and industrial activities since tourism became popular in the region during the 19th century. Two cities — Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York — have developed around the three waterfalls that comprise the natural wonder. With a population of approximately 83,000 according to the previous national census in 2011, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is the larger city of the two. As the Canadian side yields the best vantage point from which to view the falls, the city attracts millions of visitors every year. In addition to its natural offerings, the city's skyline has been defined by highrise hotels, casinos, museums, souvenir shops, and theatres. The second tallest peak is the Skylon Tower, an observation tower that provides an elevated perspective of North America's most powerful waterfall.
Construction on the 160-metre tower began in 1964 and the landmark was opened one year later by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Ontario Premier John Robarts. Predating Toronto's CN Tower by a decade, the concrete structure and the surrounding complex has mostly retained its 1960s aesthetic. The faded green crown of the tower was restored to its original copper colouring in 2008. Restaurants, gift shops, and a large amusement arcade are situated at the base of the tower. To ensure the attraction's ongoing vitality, the Skylon Tower has increased its amenities in recent years, expanding to include a 3D/4D theatre, two Starbucks franchises, and a bridge to the Fallsview Casino complex.
Three "Yellow Bug" elevators attached to the outside of the structure lift passengers to the top of the tower — where a revolving dining room and buffet restaurant are also housed — in 52 seconds. The structure's summit enables spectacular panoramic views of the natural and manmade scenery, including the 51-metre-high Horseshoe Falls, which lies almost entirely on the Canadian side. About 90% of the Niagara River flows over the Horseshoe Falls in a tremendous display of power, resulting in erosion of the rock behind at a rate of 1.5 metres per year.
A "Voyage to the Falls" boat operated by Hornblower Cruises approaches the gushing water in the image above. The famous Maid of the Mist boats continue to provide service on the American side after Canadian operations ceased in 2013. The image above also captures the distant skyline of Buffalo, New York, in the upper left corner, and Marineland's 91-metre Sky Screamer drop ride in the upper right corner.
Directly to the east, the American and much smaller Bridal Veil Falls are visible. Separated from the Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island, which is also entirely located within the United States, erosion has led to numerous rock falls over the past 150 years, resulting in a large rock mound gathered at the base. The skyline of Niagara Falls, New York, is dominated by the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, which boasts the largest hotel in the state outside of Manhattan. Opened in 2002, the casino was built to compete with the commercial gambling facilities on the Canadian side. To the west, the Prospect Point Park observation tower has provided 86-metre-high views of the surrounding landscape since 1961. The steel, aluminum, and glass structure underwent an extensive renovation in 2001. Crossing the Niagara River gorge and connecting the American and Canadian sides is the Rainbow Bridge, also visible in the image above.
The view to the northeast shows the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel and Casino Niagara at the right of the image above, while lowrise buildings line Clifton Hill, the city's main tourist promenade. The 53-metre Niagara SkyWheel is a prominent fixture located just north of the dense tree covering depicted in the image. Opened in 2006, the attraction offers 42 fully enclosed passenger cars that each carry eight people for approximately 15 minutes, giving visitors another option to view the scenery from an aerial perspective.
Single-detached homes comprise the cityscape to the west, while panning to the southwest will yield a much different sight. The tallest building in the city is the 51-level Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls, a skyscraping 2009 addition to the existing hotel complex.
The 2004-built Fallsview Casino is located just across the street and its 35-storey hotel component is one of the most prominent features of the Niagara Falls skyline. The $1 billion CAD complex contains over 2.5 million square feet of space and includes more than 100 gaming tables, 3,000 slot machines, and over a dozen restaurants.
As Niagara Falls continues to erode the rockscape in behind, its width will expand correspondingly with the Niagara River, creating an even more impressive natural environment while enhancing its function as a source of hydroelectric power. Residents and visitors should expect the skyline to undergo a similar enlargement, as more attractions and hotels are added to serve the region's pent-up demand for cultural and entertainment facilities.
