A Region Unsung

Living in the shadow of another isn’t always easy. Like a young boy starting at a new school that his popular older brother attends, Batman and Robin in the superhero world, or even a pitcher and catcher in the world of sports, a larger-than-life personality gets all the attention while the quieter, humbler of the pair goes about their business relatively unnoticed.

The younger brother, Robin, and the catcher all end up as sidekicks, attracting far less attention than their counterparts. But if one were to look closer at those in the shadows, their true value would be revealed. The older brother, Batman and the pitcher all need their partners. In fact, they’d be far less of a big deal without them. They’re a team, regardless of where the attention is directed.

Let’s think of one more example to really drive this point home. Say … Niagara Falls? Yes! That’s perfect!

Everyone’s heard of this thundering marvel of nature in a town-turned-amusement park buzzing with life all year round. We all know what and where it is, so there’s no need to dive into that. What many don’t know, however, is where the water comes from.

This stunning wonder of the world couldn’t possibly feed itself, pulling water out of thin air to spill continuously over the jagged edge of the Falls, hammering down against the rocks below before swirling into an unfathomable torrent of chaos and continuing its journey to the entrance of Lake Ontario.

Every day, about a million bathtubs worth of water travel over The Horseshoe Falls, forming a 180-foot (57-metre) high aquatic curtain draping down into the carnage below. It’s always happening; it does not stop. But all that water has to come from somewhere, right?

To find the answer, we need to push against the raging current of the Niagara River. Swimming upstream, we eventually arrive at Lake Erie, the fourth largest and shallowest of the Great Lakes. Not only is Lake Erie, with its slight diversion into the Welland Canal, an important part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, but it is also an essential piece of the puzzle in maintaining the mighty flow of Niagara Falls, working as a drainage basin with a short water retention thanks to how shallow it is.

Water from Lake Erie feeds the Niagara River with its outflow, travelling over the Falls and into Lake Ontario, nearly one hundred metres lower. This humble lake is the secret ingredient to the spectacle of Niagara and a big reason why Niagara Falls is what it is, rather than simply a giant cliff overlooking a pile of rocks. That’s right! Lake Erie is the unsung hero of the Niagara region. But there’s more to the story than just the lake.

Welcome to Niagara’s South Coast!

Lining the northern banks of this hidden treasure are golden beaches, rocky outcrops and lush green forests waiting to be explored. And people live here! Friendly people, proud of the place we call home. From Fort Erie in the East to Port Colborne and Wainfleet in the West, the northern shore of Lake Erie has more options available to visitors than a lifetime would allow them to explore.

In our next post, we will discuss slowing down and taking advantage of what this beautiful, lesser-known region has to offer. With a maximum drive time of thirty minutes to Niagara Falls, this stunning, peaceful slice of the Niagara region offers the perfect balance of joining the party and being able to unwind in peace.

Niagara’s South Coast is a little secret we’re excited to share with you. So, stay tuned and follow us on social media for updates on when the next part of this series will be released. And visit us soon! You’ll be glad you did.

– Mike Bilodeau