Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1518396
NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA Port Colborne proudly proclaims itself the Gateway to Navigation. It is also the gateway to North America's largest and most powerful cascade, Niagara Falls. Epic in its scope and volume, the falls hurl 42 million gallons of water down 20 stories every minute. Its mile- wide length straddles the Canadian and US borders and is split by islands into three smaller cataracts: Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls. Long a storied destination for young honeymooners, today the mighty torrent is a thrill for visitors. DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES Detroit sits on one of the four straits that link the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Seaway and has emerged as a city rich in culture. In 2015, it became the first US city to earn designation as a "City of Design" by UNESCO for its creativity in urban development. Detroit was founded as a fort in 1701 and later grew into the epicentre of the US automobile industry. Today the city is beloved as the birthplace of Motown, a portmanteau of "motor" and "town." Its waterfront reveals remarkable examples of postmodern and art deco skyscrapers. WELLAND CANAL, CANADA The Welland Canal is one of Canada's greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. Built from 1824 to 1833 to bypass the Niagara River and its mighty falls, it comprises eight locks that lift or lower ships 100 metres between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This vital canal is the spine of the peninsula's trade and industry, with numerous docks receiving ships and roadways crossing the water. Our expedition vessels are purpose-built to traverse this impressive waterway. MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES Mackinac Island is a gem of the Great Lakes where you can step back to simpler times. Located in the Straits of Mackinac where Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas are closest and Lakes Huron and Michigan meet, this bucolic haven preserves gilded Victorian- era treasures along car-free streets traversed by horse-drawn carriages. More than 80% of Mackinac is protected as a state park, from its Greek Revival Grand Hotel and British-built Fort Mackinac to its preserved wilderness areas. 65 Call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or contact your local Viking travel agent