The Canadian city of Hamilton, considered the capital of waterfalls, and its main gems (11 photos + 1 video)

Niagara Falls is considered North America's premier water attraction, attracting millions of tourists. But the true capital of the water world lies just 80 kilometers west, in Hamilton, Canada.





Located in the heart of the country's most industrialized zone, Hamilton has paradoxically become a haven of untouched nature. And its greatest treasure is its waterfalls.



There are over a hundred of them here, one of the highest numbers among cities of this size. The reason for this natural abundance lies in its fortunate location. Hamilton lies on the Niagara Escarpment, an arcing mountain range that runs through the city, stretching from New York State through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Any river, stream, or river that encounters this escarpment inevitably ends in one or more waterfalls.





For a long time, the half-million residents of Hamilton, known as the steel capital of the country, barely noticed this wealth. A turning point came in 2008, when local resident Chris Eklund founded the non-profit initiative "City of Waterfalls." Residents, of course, knew about a couple of large cascades where they picnicked and swam in the summer heat, but no one even suspected the true scale of the city's aquatic heritage.



Even today, no one can pinpoint the exact number of these natural gems. Eklund's website lists 130 waterfalls, but some sources claim there are over 150. The confusion arises because only about 50-60 of them flow year-round, while the rest only come alive during the rainy season. Furthermore, some are located on private property, and many in the city center have disappeared entirely with the population growth and the construction of new neighborhoods.



Unlike the mighty Niagara, Hamilton has no major rivers, so the local waterfalls aren't particularly powerful. Their main advantage is their variety and intimate atmosphere. Here you'll find ribbon falls (high and narrow), classic falls (of equal height and width), curtain falls (wide and low), and cascades where the water flows over ledges.







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