This past weekend I made it back to the Lower Niagara Gorge to enjoy one of my Western New York happy places. The loud roar of the whitewater rapids along with the towering and crashing waves feed both hearing and sight.

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I could spend hours along the river banks there, just watching and listening. The waves are not like ocean waves. Ocean waves are more predictable. Or even if not predictable one can see them coming. Here at the river, the waves grow out of nowhere. The sheer power of water trying to move through the gorge faster than water can flow. The faster water behind pushing against the slower water ahead and all of a sudden a tower grows, grows, and grows until it tips over and falls backwards on itself. And then nothing for a bit. And then a similar sight just a short distance away.

White Water of Lower Niagara RiverWhirlpool State Park

No, these are not photographs from this past weekend, these are from a fall visit there. Shooting film these days it usually takes me a little longer to process it and get photos ready for online posting. Instead, I realized I still had photos from my last visit I never got a chance to share. And that brings me to another magic about this place. Based on the season one visits the river banks can look completely differently. In summer, there's more water going down Niagara Falls and rushing into the gorge. In winter, more water is rerouted through the power station and it does not re-enter the river until further down river well past the Whirlpool itself. That significantly lowers the water level and exposes more rocks along the river banks, most of them covered with moss adding color to the landscape.

Mossy Niagara River BanksWhirlpool State Park

During the colorful fall season I always prefer heading out earlier rather than later. That allows me to witness and photograph all of the yellows, oranges, and reds along with some greens still left over. On this day at the gorge, the greenery came from a different source. The freshly exposed moss was still lush and provided a picturesque combination with the colorful foliage.

Fall around Lower Niagara RiverWhirlpool State Park

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

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Class 6 Rapids, Niagara River at the Whirlpool Rapids GorgeWhirlpool State Park The Rage Up CloseWhirlpool State Park Niagara River at the Whirlpool Rapids GorgeWhirlpool State Park