Horseshoe Falls and Cormorant, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

(Click image to enlarge)

Niagara Falls is one of the most heavily exploited natural wonders on earth. I wondered if it was still possible to somehow capture the essence of the thundering falls as they appeared before the rampant development occurred. This meant avoiding big sweeping views and instead peering into microcosms where only birds can go. Here one can still find remnants of the real Niagara Falls.

The superficial appearance these microcosms may seem unaltered by time, but they are not. Depending on the time of year and the time of day, only 25% to 50% of the natural water flow goes over Niagara Falls. The highest flows are reserved for daylight hours during the summer tourist season, with the remaining water flow being diverted through a hydroelectric power generating station. Today one can only imagine the sight of Niagara Falls with twice as much water flowing over the crest.