(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I like the color of the water in this picture of the Niagara River below the falls.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Niagara River is almost as interesting as Niagara Falls. The river both above and below the falls is fascinating. This picture of the river was taken on Goat Island above the falls. You can see the brink of the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls to the right.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

A visit to Niagara Falls offers many interesting perspectives for photographs. The ground-level photo above captures both waterfalls. The American Falls is in the foreground while the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls is in the background.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

One of the attractions of Niagara Falls is a cruise on the Maid of the Mist, which gives visitors a water-level view of the falls. This picture shows why everyone on the boat is given a slicker to wear.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Niagara River below the falls is wild and full of rapids. But all that water rushing over and around boulders in the river makes for some fascinating captures. This picture was taken from an observation deck at water level in August, 2002.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The picture above shows the Color Guard of British Fort George carrying off the Union Jack after lowering the flag. Fort George is an 1812-era fort at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Niagara River below the falls is almost hypnotic as the water rushes between the walls of the gorge and over around boulders in the stream.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Fort Niagara is an American fort built on the Niagara River to protect against an invasion by the British from Canada during the War of 1812. This picture was taken from Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Fort George was built by the British to protect against an invasion by the Americans.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

In August, 2002, Betsy and I visited Niagara Falls and took a cruise on the Maid of the Mist to the base of the two falls. This was the view of the American Falls as we approached it on the boat.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This picture was taken on Goat Island, between the American and Canadian falls at Niagara. The mist in the upper right-hand corner of the picture is from the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The picture above was scanned from a slide made in 1990. I was on the Great Wall and had hiked to a watch tower at the top of a pass from which I could see the wall snaking across the mountains for as far as the eye could see. It would have been fun to go further along the wall, but I had to head back down to the gate from which I started.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

There are several kilometers of rapids in the Niagara River below the waterfalls. This particular picture was taken at White Water Walk on the river below the falls.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I've shown several pictures of Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, in this blog. This picture shows the British flag flying above the wall of the fort.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This is another picture taken from the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. This was the view as we passed the American Falls.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

While visiting Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada, we saw a demonstration of the firing of this 1812-era mortar. It was a small piece, but it sure made a big noise.

*********************

On a sad note we learned that Betsy's brother, Ray, died yesterday (Friday) afternoon. Please keep Betsy and Ray's family in your prayers. Our posting and visiting your blogs are likely going to be hit and miss for the next few days.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The photo above was taken at Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario when Betsy and I visited there in 2002. The fort is fascinating and many things were of interest. But this flagpole especially caught my attention. The soldiers give you some indication of the height of the flag pole. And the British flag itself is of a corresponding size.

Why such a tall flagpole and such a big flag? Because in sight, right across the Niagara River, was an American fort. The British obviously wanted the Americans to know that they (the British) were here!

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Niagara River below the falls rushes through a fairly narrow gorge at fantastic speeds. Then, about three miles below the falls, the river makes a 90-degree turn, which results in a fascinating whirlpool. The picture above was taken from the top of the gorge. The whirlpool can be seen to the left of center in the picture. The boat in the picture is pointing toward the top of the whirlpool.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The daily lowering of the flag at a military installation is known as Retreat. We witnessed Retreat at Fort George while we were there in 2002. The soldiers and fife and drum corps were dressed in the uniforms of British soldiers circa 1812.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Yesterday I shared British Fort George in Canada. This is Fort Niagara, as seen from Fort George. The American invasion of Canada in 1813 was launched from Fort Niagara.

This picture was taken in 2002 when Betsy and I visited Fort George. We finally got to visit Fort Niagara in 2008.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Fort George is located near Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is across the Niagara River from Fort Niagara in New York. During the War of 1812 Americans captured Fort George from the British in May, 1813. The British recaptured the fort in December, 1813.