It all began 12,000 years ago when a huge trench was carved to create this spectacular natural wonder. At the time, the Falls was about 7 miles down river in the Lewiston-Queenston area.

"Onguiaahra" is an Iroquois word meaning Thunder of Water. Today's Niagara results from the written transcription of the word into French in the 17th century.

While the Falls themselves are relatively young at 12,000 years old, it was a measly 500 years ago that they split into today's Canadian Horseshoe and American Falls (with the Bridal Veil Falls forming a third, very narrow set). In the middle sits Goat Island, named to commemorate a herd of goats that froze to death on the island during the winter of 1780.

Although a rich hunting, fishing and food-gathering ground for Native peoples for thousands of years, the first recorded non-Native sighting of the Falls took place in 1678, when a Recollet father by the name of Louis Hennepin stood on the edge and marvelled at what he must have felt was one of God's natural wonders.

Europeans brought war to the region in during the War of 1812 between United States and the British colonists (who were called Loyalists during the American Revolution, due to their decision to stick with the British) across the river. The whole Niagara River area is brimming with Forts and monuments that record this period.

Niagara Falls was established as the honeymoon destination by the French in the early 1800s. It has been said that Napoleon's brother, Jerome Bonaparte, travelled by stage from New Orleans to spend his honeymoon in Niagara Falls, and returned home with glowing reports.

Since then Niagara Falls has become the honeymoon capital of the world with around 50,000 couples visiting every year and taking advantage of the special hotel rooms for newlyweds.