Researching Niagara Falls by Janice Lynn

 

Just as with my latest Harlequin Medical, Heart Doctor's Summer Reunion, I love to share locations and make them come alive for the readers. Learning while reading fiction is one of my favorites. I'm always intrigued by where a story takes place and the little nuggets I glean from the author as I experience the story via the characters.  

In the next few weeks, I'll be meeting up with an author friend to visit Niagara Falls. Although she's been several times, I never have, but off I go as I want to set a book in the area. Prior to heading to a book setting or even a vacation destination, I like to learn at least basics about the area and this trip is no different. 

Things I learned that as a Southern girl, I didn't know:

(A General View of the Falls of Niagara by Alvan Fisher 1820)

Niagara Falls is actually 3 separate waterfalls. Horseshoe falls, which is also known as Canadian Falls, borders the United States and Canada and is what I picture in my head when I think of Niagara Falls. The other two falls that make up "Niagara Falls" are the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Both of those waterfalls are located within the United States. 

The falls are formed by the river that drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario and was originally formed by glaciers. 

The water flow is halved at night and during off tourism season. 

The current rate of erosion is 30 cm/year and at that rate in 50,000 years, Niagara Falls will cease to exist. 

Although there have been partial freezes, the river and falls are recorded to have completely frozen once on March 29, 1848 and was that way for about 40 hours.

Napoleon Bonaparte's brother, Jerome, visited the falls.

The falls have been used for a power source since the mid 1700s and were once privately owned.

Two bodies were found at the bottom of the American Falls in 1969 the Niagara River was diverted to Horseshoe Falls for erosion control.

(Niagara by Louis Remy Mignot, around 1866)

I can't wait to write this story and work in some information about the area, history, and the falls. 

Are there any stories you've read that have had settings that have intrigued you to want to visit? Or that were so well written that you felt as if you were there?

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USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com  The WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS books are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART & many other place where you buy books. WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE is coming Christmas 2024.