Monday, January 9, 2012

Whirlpool Aerocar/ Our World

 Niagara River - on the border between the U.S. and Canada

Would you cross the 550 metres (1800 feet) between the two sides of this gorge in...

 Whirlpool Aerocar dangling over the Niagara River

this antique gondola operating here since 1916? If you would, you are a far braver person than I am!  I'm sure the brochure is correct that it's a thrilling 10-minute ride,  but I am, unfortunately, very afraid of heights.  The six sturdy cables that carry the car do not assuage my fears even though I know the aerocar has been updated three times since it was installed.

The reason other people take the aerocar trip is to see...

Niagara Whirlpool

the whirlpool below, which spins counterclockwise at the end of a rapids where the gorge abruptly turns 90° into a narrow channel.

FYI: To take these photos, I stood on terra firma on the American side of the gorge, from where I could see the whirlpool well enough, thank you.

And here's a bit of trivia: between approximately November 1 and April 1 when water is diverted from the river to hydro-electric dams,  the whirlpool swirls in a clockwise direction.

Click  HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

44 comments:

MadSnapper said...

I can say a big NO NO NO i would not ride in that gondola, but my grandfather and his wife and child did, while mother held my hand while i screamed and cried at age 8 becaue i just knew Granddaddy would fall in that raging river. i would have been on terra ferma way back from the edge. i still remember the roar of the falls when we went under them in the boat.

Kathy said...

Ii think I'd do it!

Kate said...

I'm not afraid of heights...just death. I'm with you; just take photos. Love the idea of the whirlpool changing direction!

Jill said...

NO way! Love your pictures. How neat about the whirlpool!

Anonymous said...

It's a l o n g way down! You would get some great shots on the ride over, just need to lean out a little bit...

Maude Lynn said...

No, no, not getting on that!

Charlene N. K. said...

That sounds really thrilling to me! I would love to take that ride and look down at that whirlpool. That's adventure!
Thanks for this amazing information.

Penelope Notes said...

I hope to visit this area someday and take that ride … despite a discomfort with such grand heights. I never regretted taking a gondola ride up the Swiss Alps and was so awestruck by the beauty that any fear I might have had was quickly washed away. Incidentally, I am impressed with your determination in getting that whirlpool shot. :)

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I would do it only if the number of people accompaning me were reasonable, say a half a dozen. If it were a full house, I'd pass.

TexWisGirl said...

that sounds neat!!!

Gillian Olson said...

Interesting post and great pictures. The aerial car looks a bit scary.

Francisca said...

Heh... I don't remember the whirlpool OR the aurocar... And yes, I would take this antique clunker across, but only if there was NO line-up. My knees would no doubt buckle (thanks to vertigo, or something), but I've not let that stop me from doing sill things at heights. Nice shots, EG, and the bridge could be linked you know where... :-)

Malyss said...

I'm with you : I just COULD not!!
I have a question: in the movie "Niagara", with Marilyn Monroe, there s a scene in a clocktower where you can choose the music played by bells. Does it really exist?..

George said...

Betsy and I rode the aerocar when we visited Niagara Falls several years ago. We were on the Canadian side during that trip and enjoyed the aerocar ride very much (remember we were younger then!). Thanks for the memories.

RedPat said...

No - if I don't have to why tempt fate!

Sylvia K said...

I would do it! I'd probably be holding my breath the whole time, but I would do it! What a fantastic place and your photos are terrific as always!! Hope you have a great week!

Sylvia

Kim, USA said...

I would have second thoughts riding in this aerocar hehehe. ^_^

Kim, USA

Carver said...

That looks like a fun ride to me. I actually love heights and would probably enjoy going across on that. I am far more afraid of being underground. I can't spend too long in mines.

Unknown said...

The whirlpool is always stunning!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

It's an awesome place to visit and seeing it with our own eyes when we visited was amazing. YEs, the gondola looks precarious and I share your view about staying on terra firma!
Great shots!

Anonymous said...

I don't know if I could ride that thing. I'm not one that likes heights too much. However, the pics would probably be really neat.

Ms. Becky said...

no. I fear heights as you. I would not make the journey across. but this is fascinating. especially that the whirlpool reverses direction during winter months! wishing you a year of good cheer, health, and laughter in 2012 EG. happy day.

Susan said...

Not getting me in that thing, no way Jose! I'd get nervous just driving over on the bridge! I do love the photos though! They are great!

Halcyon said...

I might try it, but I do feel nervous just looking at this photo. :)
Interesting trivia tidbit. I want to get down there one it freezes a bit.

kayerj said...

I would ride it! what a great shot. Is this before or after the falls?

Anonymous said...

What wonderful adventure that must be ! Am aboard ! Thank you for this interesting journey very much.


daily athens photo

Anonymous said...

What wonderful adventure that must be ! Am aboard ! Thank you for this interesting journey very much.


daily athens photo

eileeninmd said...

It looks a little scary to me, not sure if I would have the nerve to take the ride. My hubby would love it!!! He likes thrills. Great photos.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

I have done it, and it was really really fun. It isn't scary at all. It is an amazing way to see up and down the river as well as the whirlpool

Love your photos, great angles on both of them.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wow -- has anybody ever gotten hurt (or worse) riding on that? Great pictures to teach that interesting trivia. Thank you.

Giga said...

Pięknie tam, wspaniałe zdjęcia. Gondolą bym też nie pojechała :-(. Pozdrawiam.

Beautifully there, great pictures. Gondola would also not gone :-(. Yours.

Coy Hill said...

Great place to visit! Never rode the areocar but just might do it the next time.

Al said...

Absolutely yes - next time I'm there I need to do this. The Royal Gorge Tramway looks much scarier than this, and I survived! (I've got photos from that on my blog at http://www.alsphotographyblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/scenic-sunday-royal-gorge-tramway.html .)

Jack said...

No no no no no no! In recent years, I have been developing a real dislike of heights. This would not be fun at all!

Randy said...

Looks like a great place to explore!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful no doubt, but I run away from heights!!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Yep, I could do that ride in a heartbeat.

Anonymous said...

I'm scared of heights but might be tempted anyway! What an amazing way to cross the gorge.

Darla said...

You couldn't get me on that gondola for anything. In fact I'd probably be afraid to stand as close to the edge as you must have been to get the whirlpool shot.

Darla

Unknown said...

oh, i would ride in that gondola for sure!:p i wonder if bungee jumping is allowed from the bridge...that would be exciting, too.

Stephanie said...

I love the clouds in your first pic. Brrrr it looks cold.

VP said...

I would really like to ride that aerocar!

Rose said...

Were you always afraid of heights? I wasn't at all...don't even know when it changed, but I would be right there with you on solid ground!

Lowell said...

Fantastic photos! I wouldn't go on that thing for all the ice in the Arctic! Yikes!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.