世界景點介紹英語
『壹』 世界各地名勝古跡的英文名
常見世界各地名勝古跡的英文表達：
1、故宮：The Palace Museum或者The Forbidden City
2、天壇 ：The Temple of Heaven
3、天安門廣場：Tian'anmen Square
4、長城：The Great Wall
5、埃及金字塔：The Pyramids of Egypt
6、喜馬拉雅山：The Himalayas
7、日本富士山：Mount Fuji, Japan
8、印度泰姬陵：Taj Mahal, India
9、柬埔寨吳哥窟：Angkor Wat, Cambodia
10、印度尼西亞巴厘島：Bali, Indonesia
11、新加坡聖淘沙：Sentosa, Singapore
12、悉尼歌劇院Sydney Opera House, Australia
13、法國巴黎聖母院：Notre Dame de Paris, France
14、法國盧浮宮：Louvre, France
15、美國紐約中央公園：Central Park, New York City, USA
16、科羅拉多大峽谷：Grand Canyon
17、舊金山金門大橋：Golden Gate Bridge
18、自由女神像：statue of liberty
19、大堡礁：great barrier reef
20、埃菲爾鐵塔：effiel tower
21、凱旋門：arch of triumph
『貳』 世界著名景點的英文匯集
Asia 亞洲
The Himalayas 喜馬拉雅山
Great Wall, China 中國長城
Forbidden City, Beijing, China 北京故宮
Mount Fuji, Japan 日本富士山
Taj Mahal, India 印度泰姬陵
Angkor Wat, Cambodia 柬埔寨吳哥窟
Bali, Indonesia 印度尼西亞巴厘島
Borobur, Indonesia 印度尼西亞波羅浮屠
Sentosa, Singapore 新加坡聖淘沙
Crocodile Farm, Thailand 泰國北欖鱷魚湖
Pattaya Beach, Thailand 泰國芭堤雅海灘
Babylon, Iraq 伊拉克巴比倫遺跡
Mosque of St, Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey 土耳其聖索非亞教堂
Mount Fuji, Japan 日本富士山
Taj Mahal, India 印度泰姬陵
Angkor Wat, Cambodia 柬埔寨吳哥窟
Bali, Indonesia 印度尼西亞巴厘島
Borobur, Indonesia 印度尼西亞波羅浮屠
Sentosa, Singapore 新加坡聖淘沙
Babylon, Iraq 伊拉克巴比倫遺跡
『叄』 求一個介紹世界旅遊景點的英語PPT
asia 亞洲
the himalayas 喜馬拉雅山
great wall, china 中國長城
forbidden city, beijing, china 北京故宮
mount fuji, japan 日本富士山
taj mahal, india 印度泰姬陵
angkor wat, cambodia 柬埔寨吳哥窟
bali, indonesia 印度尼西亞巴厘島
borobur, indonesia 印度尼西亞波羅浮屠
sentosa, singapore 新加坡聖淘沙
crocodile farm, thailand 泰國北欖鱷魚湖
pattaya beach, thailand 泰國芭堤雅海灘
babylon, iraq 伊拉克巴比倫遺跡
mosque of st, sophia in istanbul (constantinople), turkey 土耳其聖索非亞教堂
africa 非洲
suez canal, egypt 印度蘇伊士運河
aswan high dam, egypt 印度阿斯旺水壩
nairobi national park, kenya 肯亞內羅畢國家公園
cape of good hope, south africa 南非好望角
sahara desert 撒哈拉大沙漠
pyramids, egypt 埃及金字塔
the nile, egypt 埃及尼羅河
oceania 大洋洲
great barrier reef 大堡礁
sydney opera house, australia 悉尼歌劇院
ayers rock 艾爾斯巨石
mount cook 庫克山
easter island 復活節島
europe 歐洲
notre dame de paris, france 法國巴黎聖母院
effiel tower, france 法國艾菲爾鐵塔
arch of triumph, france 法國凱旋門
elysee palace, france 法國愛麗舍宮
louvre, france 法國盧浮宮
kolner dom, koln, germany 德國科隆大教堂
leaning tower of pisa, italy 義大利比薩斜塔
colosseum in rome, italy 義大利古羅馬圓形劇場
venice, italy 義大利威尼斯
parthenon, greece 希臘巴台農神廟
red square in moscow, russia 莫斯科紅場
big ben in london, england 英國倫敦大笨鍾
buckingham palace, england 白金漢宮
hyde park, england 英國海德公園
london tower bridge, england 倫敦塔橋
westminster abbey, england 威斯敏斯特大教堂
monte carlo, monaco 摩洛哥蒙特卡羅
the mediterranean 地中海
the americas 美洲
niagara falls, new york state, usa 美國尼亞加拉大瀑布
bermuda 百慕大
honolulu, hawaii, usa 美國夏威夷火奴魯魯
panama canal 巴拿馬大運河
yellowstone national park, usa 美國黃石國家公園
statue of liberty, new york city, usa 美國紐約自由女神像
times square, new york city, usa 美國紐約時代廣場
the white house, washington dc., usa 美國華盛頓白宮
world trade center, new york city, usa 美國紐約世界貿易中心
central park, new york city, usa 美國紐約中央公園
yosemite national park, usa 美國尤塞米提國家公園
grand canyon, arizona, usa 美國亞利桑那州大峽谷
hollywood, california, usa 美國加利佛尼亞好萊塢
disneyland, california, usa 加利佛尼亞迪斯尼樂園
las vegas, nevada, usa 美國內華達拉斯威加斯
miami, florida, usa 美國佛羅里達邁阿密
metropolitan museum of art, new york city, usa 紐約大都會藝術博物館
acapulco, mexico 墨西哥阿卡普爾科
cuzco, mexico 墨西哥庫斯科
『肆』 各國名勝古跡 英語
www.travelbestphoto.com/displayimage-5-0.html
這個網站包羅了以上的全部景點的圖片和英文名稱，並且還有世界內其他各國很多的名勝古跡容，請欣賞！
『伍』 世界著名旅遊景點的英文
The United States Grand Canyon
Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Florida's Palm Beach
New Zealand's South Island阿爾比斯Mountains
Cape of Good Hope
India Golden Temple
Alaweijiashi AN EVERYBRIGHT CITY
Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge
New York Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge
India Taj
Canadian Rocky Mountains
Els rock Europe
Mexico Mayan monuments
Peru Inca ruins
Niagara Falls
Jordan Petra City
Egypt Pyramids
Venice Shuicheng
Maldives
China Great Wall
Victoria Falls
Hong Kong, Hawaii, Auckland
Architecture: Milan Cathedral, France Eiffel Tower, the Arc De Triomphe in Paris, Versailles Palace in Paris, Notre Dame de Paris,巴黎巴士end Opera
美國大峽谷
澳大利亞大堡礁
美國佛羅里達州的棕櫚海灘
紐西蘭南島阿爾比斯山脈
好望角
印度金廟
阿拉維加斯不夜城
悉尼歌劇院和海港大橋
紐約帝國大廈和自由女神像和布魯克林懸索橋
印度泰姬陵
加拿大洛基山脈
歐洲埃爾斯岩
墨西哥瑪雅古跡
秘魯印加遺址
尼亞加拉瀑布
約旦佩特拉城
埃及金字塔
威尼斯水城
馬爾地夫
中國長城
維多利亞瀑布
香港、夏威夷、奧克蘭
建築：義大利米蘭大教堂、法國愛非爾鐵塔、巴黎凱旋門、巴黎凡爾賽宮、巴黎聖母院、巴黎巴士底歌劇院
上下對應的
『陸』 世界著名景點英語
World famous scenic spots
The Himalayas 喜馬拉雅山
Great Wall, China 中國長城
Forbidden City, Beijing, China 北京故宮
Mount Fuji, Japan 日本版富士山
Taj Mahal, India 印度泰權姬陵
『柒』 用英文幫我介紹幾個世界著名景點
旅遊英語各方面的，在下面的網址里有，在比較後面，版是英文版權的：）~
http://www.blog.e.cn/user1/12601/subject
『捌』 世界旅遊景點推薦,英文怎麼翻譯
World Tourism attractions recommended 世界旅遊景點推薦 有望樓主笑納
『玖』 用英文幫我介紹幾個世界著名景點，100個詞左右
^We live in a beautiful world, with countless wonders. Here, I will talk about just a few of them.
Have you seen the majestic statue of Zeus at Olympia? As one of the seven wonders of the world, it stands 39 feet tall, and its massive size fills up almost half of the width of the aisle of the temple that houses it.
Or perhaps you have heard of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the three largest pyramids built in ancient Egypt.
The hanging gardens of Babylon is a wonder of the ancient world, meaning that it may have been purely legendary, a myth.
Another wonder would be the Colosseum. Standing right smack in the heart of Rome, Italy, it is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Lastly, how can we forget our own wonder, the Great Wall of China? So magnificently big, that it is the only human-made structure that can be seen from space!
164字
記得採納哦，謝了！
歡迎追問。^^
『拾』 用英文幫我介紹幾個世界著名景點
雖然是在網站上找的，但是還是費了不少的力，希望對你有幫助那我的辛苦也就沒有白費了！
1.自由女神像介紹：
Out of all of America's symbols, none has proved more enring or evocative than the Statue of Liberty. This giant figure, torch in hand and clutching a stone tablet, has for a century acted as a figurehead for the American Dream; indeed there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence. It's worth remembering that the statue is - for Americans at least - a potent reminder that the USA is a land of immigrants: it was New York Harbor where the first big waves of European immigrants arrived, their ships entering through the Verrazano Narrows to round the bend of the bay and catch a first glimpse of "Liberty Enlightening the World" - an end of their journey into the unknown, and the symbolic beginning of a new life.
These days, although only the very wealthy can afford to arrive here by sea, and a would-be immigrant's first (and possibly last) view of the States is more likely to be the customs check at JFK Airport, Liberty remains a stirring sight, with Emma Lazarus's poem, The New Colossus, written originally to raise funds for the statue's base, no less quotable than when it was written……
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips."Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse to your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
The statue, which depicts Liberty throwing off her shackles and holding a beacon to light the world, was the creation of the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who crafted it a hundred years after the American Revolution in recognition of solidarity between the French and American people (though it's fair to add that Bartholdi originally intended the statue for Alexandria in Egypt). Bartholdi built Liberty in Paris between 1874 and 1884, starting with a terracotta model and enlarging it through four successive versions to its present size, a construction of thin copper sheets bolted together and supported by an iron framework designed by Gustave Eiffel. The arm carrying the torch was exhibited in Madison Square Park for seven years, but the whole statue wasn't officially accepted on behalf of the American people until 1884, after which it was taken apart, crated up and shipped to New York.
It was to be another two years before it could be properly unveiled: money had to be collected to fund the construction of the base, and for some reason Americans were unwilling - or unable - to dip into their pockets. Only through the campaigning efforts of newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer, a keen supporter of the statue, did it all come together in the end. Richard Morris Hunt built a pedestal around the existing star-shaped Fort Wood, and Liberty was formally dedicated by President Cleveland on October 28, 1886, in a flag-waving shindig that has never really stopped. The statue was closed for a few years in the mid-1980s for extensive renovation and, in 1986, fifteen million people descended on Manhattan for the statue's centennial celebrations.
Today you can climb steps up to the crown, but the cramped stairway though the torch sadly remains closed to the public. Don't be surprised if there's an hour-long wait to ascend. Even if there is, Liberty Park's views of the lower Manhattan skyline, the twin towers of the World Trade Center lording it over the jutting teeth of New York's financial quarter, are spectacular enough.
2.紐約唐人街介紹：
On the surface, Chinatown is prosperous - a "model slum," some have called it - with the lowest crime rate, highest employment and least juvenile delinquency of any city district. Walk through its crowded streets at any time of day, and every shop is doing a brisk and businesslike trade: restaurant after restaurant is booming; there are storefront displays of shiny squids, clawing crabs and clambering lobster; and street markets offer overflowing piles of exotic green vegetables, garlic and ginger root. Chinatown has the feel of a land of plenty, and the reason why lies with the Chinese themselves: even here, in the very core of downtown Manhattan, they have been careful to preserve their own way of dealing with things, preferring to keep affairs close to the bond of the family and allowing few intrusions into a still-insular culture. There have been several concessions to Westerners - storefront signs now offer English translations, and Haagen Dazs and Baskin Robbins ice-cream stores have opened on lower Mott Street - but they can't help but seem incongruous. The one time of the year when Chinatown bursts open is ring the Chinese New Year festival, held each year on the first full moon after January 19, when a giant dragon runs down Mott Street to the accompaniment of firecrackers, and the gutters run with ceremonial dyes.
Beneath the neighborhood's blithely prosperous facade, however, there is a darker underbelly. Sharp practices continue to flourish, with traditional extortion and protection rackets still in business. Non-union sweatshops - their assembly lines grinding from early morning to late into the evening - are still visited by the US Department of Labor, who come to investigate workers' testimonies of being paid below minimum wage for seventy-plus-hour work weeks. Living conditions are abysmal for the poorer Chinese - mostly recent immigrants and the elderly - who reside in small rooms in overcrowded tenements ill-kept by landlords. Yet, because the community has been cloistered for so long and has only just begun to seek help from city officials for its internal problems, you won't detect any hint of difficulties unless you reside in Chinatown for a considerable length of time.
哎呀本來還想多幫你找的，但學校的網速實在是不行，太不給我自信了，接下來看你的了哈，祝你好運哦！
3.迪斯尼樂園介紹：
Walt and Roy Disney began their partnership on October 16, 1923 when they signed a contract to proce the Alice Comedies, a series of six- to eight-minute animated films, or "shorts," combining live-action and animation. What began as the Disney Brothers Studio evolved into The Walt Disney Company.
Throughout the decades, the company has expanded worldwide from shorts to feature-length animated and live-action films and television proction; character merchandise licensing; consumer procts retailing; book, magazine and music publishing; Internet activities; television and radio broadcasting; cable television programming; and the operation of theme parks and resorts.
From the creation of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927 and the debut of Mickey Mouse in 1928 to the premiere of Tarzan in 1999, animation has remained the defining signature of the company. Along the way, Disney has added successful TV shows like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, opened theme parks in California, Florida, France and Japan, launched more than 700 Disney Stores and added brands such as Touchstone, Miramax, ABC and ESPN to the fold.
To make the most of Disneyland - the ultimate escapist fantasy and the blueprint for imitations worldwide - throw yourself right into it. Don't think twice about anything and go on every ride you can. The high admission price ($36) includes them all, although ring peak periods each one can entail hours of queueing. Remember, too, that the emphasis is on family fun; the authorities take a dim view of anything remotely anti-social and eject those they consider guilty.
Over four hundred "Imaginers" worked to create the Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland's biggest opening in years. Two hours of queueing are built into the ride, with an interactive archeological dig and 1930s-style newsreel show leading up to the main feature - a giddy journey along 2500ft of skull-encrusted corridors in which you face fireballs, falling rubble, venomous snakes and, inevitably, a rolling boulder finale. Disney claims that, thanks to computer engineering, no two Indiana Jones rides are ever alike. Judge for yourself.
Among the best of the older rides are two in Adventureland: the Pirates of the Caribbean, a boat trip through underground caverns, singing along with drunken pirates; and the Haunted Mansion, a riotous "doom buggy" tour in the company of the house spooks.
Tomorrowland is Disney's vision of the future, where the Space Mountain roller coaster zips through the pitch-blackness of outer space, and the Star Tours ride simulates a journey into the world of George Lucas. The Skyway cable-car line that connects Tomorrowland with the clever but cloyingly sentimental Fantasyland is the only spot in the park from which you can see the outside world.
As for accommodation, try to visit Disneyland just for the day and spend the night somewhere else. Most of the hotels and motels nearby cost well in excess of $70 per night.
You're not permitted to bring your own food to the park; you can only consume the fast food sold on the premises.
Disneyland is at 1313 Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, 45 minutes by car from downtown using the Santa Ana Freeway. In summer, the park is open daily between 8am and 1am; otherwise opening hours are weekdays 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to midnight, and Sunday 9am to 10pm. Arrive early; traffic quickly becomes nightmarish, especially in the summer. For further information, including public transportation details, call 714/999-4565.
Spotlight on St.Petersburg
4.聖彼得堡介紹：
St.Petersburg.The very name brings to mind some of Russia's greatest poets,writers and composers:Pushkin,Dostoevsky,Tchaikovsky.The 19th century was a golden age for St.Petersburg's wealthy classes.It was a world of ballets and balls,of art and literature,of tea and caviar.
聖彼得堡，只要提到這個名字就讓人想起那些俄國最偉大的詩人、作家以及作曲家：普希金、杜斯妥也夫斯基、柴可夫斯基。十九世紀對聖彼得堡的富有階級來說是段黃金歲月。那是一個充滿了芭蕾舞和舞會、藝術和文學、茶和魚子醬的世界。
The golden age ended with the advent of World War 1.Working people were growing more and more discontented.In 1917,Communism came,promising peace and prosperity.
這段黃金歲月因為第一次世界大戰的來臨而結束。工人階級的不滿愈來愈高漲。1917年時，共產黨來了並向人民保證和平與繁榮。
St.Petersburg had become Petrograd in 1914.People wanted a Russian name for their city.Ten years later,the city's name changed again,this time to Leningrad.Then in 1991,Leningraders voted to restore the city's original name.Some people opposed the name change altogether.Others thought it was just too soon.Old,run-down Soviet Leningrad,they said,was not the St.Petersburg of 19th-century literature.
聖彼得堡在1914年變成彼得格勒。人們想為這個城市取個俄國名字。十年之後，這個城市的名字又改了，這一次叫做列寧格勒。然後在1991年，列寧格勒的居民投票恢復了此城最初的名字。有些人徹底反對改名字，有些人認為名字改得太快了。他們說老舊的蘇維埃列寧格勒已不再是十九世紀的聖彼得堡了。
What,then,is St.Petersburg?In the confusing post-Communist world,no one really knows.The quiet,if Soviet-style,dignity is gone.The Communist sayings are down,and gaudy advertising up.Candy bars and cigarettes are sold from boxy,tasteless kiosks.And clothing?Well,anything goes.Everyone wants to be a little different.But many people do not know the true meaning of freedom.Personal crime has gone up,up,up in the past few years.
那麼，到底聖彼得堡是什麼呢？在共產黨結束執政後的令人困惑的情形下，沒有人真正知道這個答案。那種安靜卻又無聊的蘇維埃式的尊嚴已經成為過去了。共產黨的標語被換了下來，代之以俗氣的廣告。那些四方形、沒有品味的攤子出售糖果和香芋。至於穿著呢？嗯，任何樣式都有。每個人都想要有點與眾不同。但是許多人仍然不知道自由的真意為何。在過去數年裡，個人犯罪率一直不斷地上升。
Yet in spite of this,you can still find some of the city's grand past.Stand at the western tip of Vasilievsky Island.To the right is the elegant Winter Palace,former home of the czars.Its light blue sides and white classical columns make it perhaps St.Petersburg's most graceful building.It houses one of the worlds most famous art museums:the Hermitage.Inside,20km of galleries house thousands of works of art.Look over your right shoulder.The massive golden dome of St.Isaac's Cathedral rises above the skyline.You'll see,too,why St.Petersburg is called a "floating city."Standing there,nearly surrounded by water,you can see four of the city's 42islands.
但是，盡管如此，你還是可以找到一些這個城市輝煌的過去。站在維絲利瓦斯基島的西端，右邊是優雅的冬宮，是沙皇從前的住處。它那淺藍色的外牆和白色古典的園柱，使它成為大概是聖彼得堡中最優雅的建築物。它裡面有世界上最有名的藝術博物館：赫米提巨博物館。在裡面，長達20公里的藝廊收藏了數千件的藝術作品。朝你右肩後方看去，聖以撒大教堂巨大的金制圓頂伸入了天空。你也會了解，為什麼聖彼得堡又被稱為「漂浮的城市」。站在那裡，幾乎完全被水環繞，你可以看見這城市四十二個島嶼中的四個。
Cross the bridge and turn behind the Winter Palace.In the middle of the huge Palace Square stands the Alexander Column.It commemorates Russia's victory over Napoleon.The 650-ton granite column is not attached to the base in any way.Its own weight keeps it upright.Hoisted into place in 1832,it has stood there ever since.
過了橋轉到冬宮的後面，巨大的冬宮廣場中間豎立著亞歷山大圓柱。它是為了紀念俄國和拿破崙交戰的勝利。這個六百五十噸的花崗石圓柱底部並未以任何方式固定，底部也無任何支撐。自1832年被豎立起來之後，便一直站立在那裡。
Continue to Nevsky Prospekt,the heart of the old city.Let the crowds hurry by while you take your time.Admire the fine carving on bridges and columns,above doorways and windows.Cross over canals and pass by smaller palaces and other classical structures.Let your eyes drink in the light blues,greens,yellows and pinks.
繼續走到納瓦斯基街，這個老城市的中心。在你悠閑地漫步的時候，讓人群從你身旁匆匆走過。欣賞那些在橋上和圓柱上，門口以及窗戶上面的精緻雕刻。穿過運河並經過較小的皇宮以及其他的古典建築物。讓你的眼睛飽享淡籃、青綠、黃色和粉紅色。
Take time to wander among Kazan Cathedral's semi circle of enormous brown columns.Or, if you prefer Russian-style architecture,cross the street and follow the canal a short distance.The Church of the Resurrection occupies the site where Czar Alexander 11was assassinated in 1881.
花些時間漫步於喀山大教堂里巨大的棕色圓柱所圍成的半圓形。或者，如果你喜歡俄國樣式的建築，穿過馬路並隨著運河走一段短距離的路。復活教會正好位於沙皇亞歷山大二世在1881年被暗殺的地方。
Travel outside the city to Petrodvorets Palace for a taste of old imperial grandeur.After a visit to France in the late 17th century,Peter the Great decided to build a palace for himself better than Versailles.His dream never came true in his lifetime.It took almost two centuries to complete the palace and park complex.
離開市區往彼得城方向游覽，一嘗古老皇宮富麗堂皇的風味。彼得大帝於十七世紀末到法國游覽了一趟後，他決定要為自己蓋一座比凡爾賽宮還好的皇宮。在他有生之年，這個夢想一直沒有實現。皇宮和公園的復合建築幾乎花了兩個世紀才完成。
Seldom does any city have the chance to reinvent itself.That chance has now come to St.Petersburg.A few people might hope to return to the glory of the past,but most know that is impossible.They want to preserve the best of past eras and push ahead.You can bet the city won't be old St.Petersburg,but something altogether different.
很少有城市有機會再創造自己，這個機會現在降臨到了聖彼得堡。有些人可能希望回到過去的榮耀里，但是大多數人知道那是不可能的。他們希望能將過去年代當中的精華保留住，並進步向前。你可以打賭這個城市將不再是老聖彼得堡，而是一個完全不同的城市。
5.尼亞加拉大瀑布的介紹：
被稱為世界七大奇景之一的尼亞加拉大瀑布位於加拿大和美國交界的尼亞加拉河上，它那豐沛而浩瀚的水汽和磅礴的氣勢，使所有前來觀賞的遊人都為之震撼。
尼亞加拉河長約56米，上接海拔174米的伊利湖，下注海拔75米的安大略湖。這99米的落差，已足以形成湍急的水流，而兩湖之間橫亘著的一道石灰岩斷崖，更使水量豐富的尼亞加拉河水在經過這里時驟然陡落，水勢澎湃，聲震如雷。
從高處的伊利湖到低處的安大略湖，在經過河床絕壁上的半島時，湖水分隔成了兩部份，分別流入加拿大和美國，形成了一大一小兩個瀑布。這兩個瀑布在加拿大這邊的景緻比在美國看起來要更加美麗壯觀。
Niagara Falls comprises three distinct cataracts. The tallest are the American and Bridal Veil falls on the American side, separated by tiny Luna Island and plunging over jagged rocks in a 180ft drop; the broad Horseshoe Falls which curve their way over to Canada are probably the most impressive. They date back a mere twelve thousand years, when the retreat of melting glaciers allowed water trapped in Lake Erie to gush north to Lake Ontario. Back then the falls were seven miles downriver, but constant erosion has cut them back to their present site. The falls are colorfully lit up at night, and many say they're most beautiful in winter, when the grounds are covered in snow and the waters turn to ice.
The best views on the American side are from the Prospect Point Observation Tower (daily; 50￠), and from the area at its base where the water rushes past; Terrapin Point on Goat Island in the middle of the river has similar views of Horseshoe Falls. The nineteenth-century tightrope-walker Blondin crossed the Niagara repeatedly near here, and even carried passengers across on his back; other suicidal fools over the years have taken the plunge in barrels. One survivor among the many fatalities was the Englishman Bobby Leach, who went over in a steel barrel in July 1911 and had to spend the rest of the year in hospital. That practice has since been banned (though a couple of maniacs did it in summer 1995 and came away with minor bruises), for reasons which become self-evident when you approach the towering cascade on the not-to-be-missed Maid of the Mist boat trip from the foot of the observation tower (summer Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm; $8.50; 716/284-4233). From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds tour leads down to the base of the falls by elevator to within almost touching distance of the water (mid-May to late Oct; $5.50). A combination pass for these and other attractions costs $16. Rainbow helicopter tours (716/284-2800) are a more expensive proposition at $40 per person for a ten-minute ride. To check the view out from Niagara Falls, Ontario, it's a twenty-minute walk across the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side (25￠ each way; bring ID, and check with US Immigration officials before heading across), where you get an arguably better view, bigger crowds and even more tawdry commercialism. Driving across is inadvisable: the toll for a car is just 75￠, but parking on the other side is upwards of $15.
As you look on in awe, reflect that you're seeing only about half the volume of water - the rest is diverted to hydroelectric power stations. The full story of this engineering feat is related at the free Niagara Power Project Visitors Center in nearby Lewiston (July & Aug daily 9am-6pm; Sept-June daily 10am-5pm; 716/285-3211). With your own transportation it's also possible to trace the inhospitable Niagara Gorge two miles along the dramatic Robert Moses Parkway to the Whirlpool Rapids, a violent maelstrom swollen by broken trees and other flotsam.
Ten miles east of Niagara Falls, the town of LOCKPORT takes its name from the series of locks that raise and lower boats some 65ft at the western end of the Erie Canal. You can see the impressive flight of locks from the Pine Street Bridge, or up close on canal boat tours (May - Nov daily at 12.30 & 3pm, also 10am on Sat; $9; 716/693-3260).