"Horshoe" Niagara Falls

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to watch Niagara Falls from a very close distance. It was truly an amazing experience for me. Me and my friends visited Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, which is so named because of its shape. There is one thing I have never done. I have never sailed the boat ride up the river directly opposite the waterfall. However, people have been doing this since the excursion boat Maid of the Mist was inaugurated in 1848. Millions of people have held this exciting journey. Now, it's my turn.

Routinely, the boats depart from both sides of the river, the American side or the Canadian side. There is always a line. We can see people of all age groups, even small children, wearing a plastic raincoat blue light, which is useful for protecting visitors from water splashes. (For people who visit the Niagara USA, yellow raincoat.) The boat Maid of the Mist VII can carry up to 582 passengers. This boat weighs 145 tons with a length of 24 meters and a width of 9 meters. Today, there are four ships operating, Maid of the Mist IV, V, VI, and VII.

Wet

We stood in line with many other visitors, and as soon as the Maid of the Mist VII lowering the visitors who already wetness, we all entered. I know that we will soon enjoy an exciting journey. In the distance, approximately one kilometer, waterfalls thundering falls from a height of 52 meters into the valley below as deep as 55 meters. The boat set off across the river and sail to the American side past the swirling waters at the foot of Niagara American, total 54 meters high. * The most exciting part is yet to come.It seemed to grow tense just as we got closer to the waterfall. Now, it is difficult to take photos because the wind was too strong and too big splash. The boat was moving slowly while the captain put it to the point of the waterfall, where more than 168,000 cubic meters of water per minute fall and plunge right in front of our boat! Her voice is powerful. You will not be able to hear the cries of your own. My heart was pounding. I can taste the water of Niagara, it feels cold but apparently pure. Truly an unforgettable experience!

Although it seems a long time, finally the captain of the boat slowly distancing the danger line and go downstream. It was a relief. Already completed. However, in fact, there is nothing to fear. Companies that operate these ships have an accident-free record. Emil Bende, president of the company's steam boat, assured us that each boat is equipped with a float and sufficient lifeboats for the passengers in the maximum capacity. There would be no case Titanic here!

Location of Niagara is more backwards!

Yes, erosion has damaged this waterfall. It is estimated that during the past 12,000 years, Niagara Falls has retreated about 11 kilometers, up to its present location. Erosion rates have been about three feet per year. Now, already declining, about 36 centimeters per decade. What is the cause of this erosion?Water flows over a layer of hard dolomite limestone that lies on top of a layer of sandstone and shale are soft. The bottom layer is eroded, so the limestone falling into the valley below.

Utilized water

Large amounts of water flowing in the short Niagara River (56 miles) from four of the five Great Lakes. It flows to the north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. In the middle of the stream, the river is used to generate hydroelectric power, which is shared by Canada and the United States. That said, this plant is one of the greatest sources of hydroelectric power in the world. Canadian and US power plants have a capacity of 4,200,000 kilowatts. Water for the turbines is taken from the Niagara River in part before the water falls.

Honeymoons and Light in the Night

Niagara Falls is a favorite location for honeymooners, especially after the screening of Niagara in 1953. At night, the waterfall is illuminated by colored spotlights, which give another dimension to the beauty and majesty of a unique location on our planet. Of course, a visit to Canada and the United States is not complete without a visit to the wonders of this world. And, if you're adventurous, do not forget the boat! You will not regret it or forget it

Beaches Rio De Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast. Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture and its annual carnival.
The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf mountain at 395 meters (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 meters (2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meters (3,350 feet). These features work together to collectively make the harbor one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World 
Even the most seasoned tourist will find the beaches here quite amazing. They are wide and clean, with soft white sand. The main beaches from Leme to Barra have plenty of services for the beach goers, including free showers at the beach, wet trails to walk on cool sand, clean pay toilets, life-savers and police, tents and chairs for rent, soft drinks and alcoholic bars, food.
The beaches are from East to West (Downtown outwards):
  • Ramos (in-bay) - inappropriate for bathing
  • Flamengo (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for bathing
  • Botafogo (in-bay) - inappropriate for bathing
  • Urca (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for bathing
  • Vermelha (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for bathing
  • Leme (oceanic)
  • Copacabana (oceanic)
  • Arpoador (oceanic)
  • Ipanema (oceanic)
  • Leblon (oceanic)
  • São Conrado (oceanic) - sometimes inappropriate for bathing
  • Barra da Tijuca (oceanic)
  • Recreio dos Bandeirantes (oceanic)
  • Grumari (oceanic)
  • Abricó (oceanic, nudist beach)
Abricó is the only official nudist beach in the area of Rio de Janeiro, it lies next to Grumari beach. Only accessible by car/taxi. An option is taking the bus numbered S-20 (Recreio) that passes along Copacabana/Ipanema/Leblon, and from the end of the line (ponto final) take a cab, for a travel time of almost 2 hours.
It is also worth visiting the beaches in the island Paquetá, particularly:
  • Praia da Moreninha (on the Guanabara Bay, but often not clean enough for swimming)
Cariocas have a unique beach culture, with a code of customs which outlanders (even Brazilians from other cities) can misconstrue easily. Despite what many foreigners may believe, there are no topless beaches. Girls can wear tiny string bikinis (fio dental), but it doesn't mean they're exhibitionists. For most of them, it's highly offensive to stare. Until the 1990s, men and boys wore speedos, then wearing bermuda shorts or trunks became more common. Speedos ("sungas" in Portuguese) and square leg suits are now making a comeback. Jammers are less common but still accepted.
Waves in Rio vary from tiny and calm in the Guanabara bay beaches (Paquetá, Ramos, Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca) to high, surf-ideal waves in Recreio. In Leme, Copacabana, Arpoador, Ipanema, and Leblon, there's a popular way of "riding" the waves called pegar jacaré (pe-GAHR zha-kah-REH; literally, "to grab an alligator"). You wait for the wave to come behind you then swim on top of it until it crumbles next to the sand.
Commerce is common in Rio's beaches, with thousands of walking vendors selling everything from sun glasses or bikinis to fried shrimp to cooling beverages (try mate com limão, a local ice tea mixed with lemonade, or suco de laranja com cenoura, orange and carrot juice). For food, there is also empada (baked flour pastry filled with meat or cheese), sanduíche natural (cool sandwich with vegetables and mayo) and middle eastern food (Kibbehs and pastries). Vendors typically shout out loud what they're selling, but they won't usually bother you unless you call them. All along the beaches there are also permanent vendors who will sell you a beer and also rent you a beach chair and an umbrella for a few Reais.
The beaches in Barra and Recreio (Quebra-Mar, Pepê, Pontal, Prainha) were favored by surfers and hang-gliders until the 1980s, but now they are outnumbered by the middle-class and nouveau riche from the suburbs and also West Zone favela residents, such as now world-famous Cidade de Deus (City of God, made famous in the eponymous film).