From the Niagara Gazette:
For millions of people around the globe the mere mention of Niagara Falls evokes images of a great natural wonder.
Since Father Louis Hennepin became the first white man to describe the cataracts  after his visit in 1678  the falls have drawn countless tourists to both sides of the border.
The numbers have often varied but it has been generally agreed by tourism officials and park commissioners that an estimated eight million tourists annually gaze in awe at the American and Canadian falls, the rugged canyon below and the water-tossed rapids above and below the cataracts.
Though Niagara may have lost its coveted title as â€ŔThe Honeymoon Capitol†to more exotic travel destinations over the years, it retains that magical power for luring visitors.