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:
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.
Ii think I'd do it!
I'm not afraid of heights...just death. I'm with you; just take photos. Love the idea of the whirlpool changing direction!
NO way! Love your pictures. How neat about the whirlpool!
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...
No, no, not getting on that!
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.
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. :)
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.
that sounds neat!!!
Interesting post and great pictures. The aerial car looks a bit scary.
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... :-)
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?..
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.
No - if I don't have to why tempt fate!
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
I would have second thoughts riding in this aerocar hehehe. ^_^
Kim, USA
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.
The whirlpool is always stunning!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
I would ride it! what a great shot. Is this before or after the falls?
What wonderful adventure that must be ! Am aboard ! Thank you for this interesting journey very much.
daily athens photo
What wonderful adventure that must be ! Am aboard ! Thank you for this interesting journey very much.
daily athens photo
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.
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.
Wow -- has anybody ever gotten hurt (or worse) riding on that? Great pictures to teach that interesting trivia. Thank you.
Pięknie tam, wspaniałe zdjęcia. Gondolą bym też nie pojechała :-(. Pozdrawiam.
Beautifully there, great pictures. Gondola would also not gone :-(. Yours.
Great place to visit! Never rode the areocar but just might do it the next time.
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 .)
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!
Looks like a great place to explore!
Beautiful no doubt, but I run away from heights!!
Yep, I could do that ride in a heartbeat.
I'm scared of heights but might be tempted anyway! What an amazing way to cross the gorge.
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
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.
I love the clouds in your first pic. Brrrr it looks cold.
I would really like to ride that aerocar!
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!
Fantastic photos! I wouldn't go on that thing for all the ice in the Arctic! Yikes!
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