avatarOksana Kukurudza's Sunflowers Rarely Break

Summary

The article explores the significance of bridges near major waterfalls, highlighting the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls, the Fraternity Bridge at Iguazu Falls, and the Victoria Falls Bridge, emphasizing their roles in connecting countries, facilitating travel, and providing unique perspectives of the falls.

Abstract

The author reflects on the underappreciated beauty and importance of bridges, particularly those that span international borders and provide access to some of the world's most spectacular waterfalls. Through personal anecdotes, the article describes the author's experiences at Niagara Falls, where the Rainbow Bridge connects the United States and Canada, Iguazu Falls, with the Fraternity Bridge offering views from both Argentina and Brazil, and Victoria Falls, where the Victoria Falls Bridge serves as a key transportation link and a site for adventure sports like bungee jumping and ziplining. The narrative includes a humorous incident at the Canadian border and the author's awe at the engineering feats involved in constructing walkways and bridges around the falls. The article also touches on the impact of modern travel restrictions and the author's anticipation of sharing these natural wonders with the next generation.

Opinions

  • The author initially viewed bridges merely as utilitarian structures but came to appreciate their beauty and historical significance, especially in the context of iconic waterfalls.
  • The Rainbow Bridge is remembered fondly from the author's childhood and is noted for providing better views of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.
  • An amusing yet cautionary tale is shared about the importance of respecting authority at border crossings, as demonstrated by an encounter with an Italian-Canadian immigration agent.
  • The Fraternity Bridge at Iguazu Falls is acknowledged for its role in offering diverse perspectives of the falls, although the author chose not to cross it due to the cost of a visa.
  • The author expresses admiration for the engineering marvels of the bridges and walkways at Iguazu Falls, designed by Charles Thays, and the thrilling experience of visiting Devil's Throat.
  • The Victoria Falls Bridge is celebrated not only for its function in trade and transportation but also for its status as a premier location for extreme sports, highlighting the author's enjoyment in observing bungee jumpers.
  • The author recommends visiting the Angel's Pool in Livingstone for an intimate experience with Victoria Falls and emphasizes the essential role these international bridges play in cultural exchange and tourism.

Bridges and Waterfalls Connecting Countries

The intersection of key bridges and waterfalls brings countries and people together.

The Rainbow Bridge and Niagara Falls, Photo by Author’s Sister

Bridges have never been on my mind traveling. I see them for their utilitarian value of getting me from point A to point B. But otherwise, I pay them no mind. I even found searching for photos of bridges in my travels problematic.

I rarely take a photo of a bridge unless it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Only the Tower Bridge in London and Charles Bridge in Prague come to mind as exceptions because of their history and architectural beauty.

However, I think about the more interesting bridges over major waterways and near waterfalls that not only help people traverse an impediment but also help them cross countries.

I have had the opportunity to see or traverse the Rainbow Bridge, Fraternity Bridge, and Victoria Falls Bridge. These essential bridges enable people to not only cross borders but also view some of the best waterfalls in the world from different angles and views.

Niagara Falls and Rainbow Bridge

The first major set of waterfalls I ever viewed was Niagara Falls flowing over the Niagara River as a toddler growing up only 90 minutes from the United States border with Canada. In the 1970s, it was so easy for Americans to just hop in a car and drive to the border.

With a driver’s license in hand, you could easily cross over the Rainbow Bridge and find yourself in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada by answering a few quick questions to affirm your U.S. citizenship. Then you were along your way.

My first trip to Niagara Falls as a toddler, Photo by Author’s Sister

Most visitors rush to see the Falls from the Canadian side of the twin towns of Niagara Falls forgoing the American side altogether since the better views of the Falls are found on the Canadian side.

Growing up, I took the Rainbow Bridge and Niagara Falls for granted. Didn’t everyone live right next door to a natural wonder of the world? I have been to the Falls more times than I can count.

One of my funnier times crossing over the Rainbow Bridge to see Niagara Falls was with a group of Europeans. I brought along two Italians and a Portuguese friend with me agreeing to be their driver and unofficial tour guide. During most of the trip, the Portuguese guy had way too much fun impressing his Italian friends with his knowledge of Italian curse words.

Even when we crossed the Rainbow Bridge and waited patiently with our car at immigration and customs he could not be deterred.

My car approached the Canadian immigration and customs kiosk. While talking to the Canadian immigration agent, the Portuguese guy in the back started cursing again.

Niagara Falls, Photo by Author’s Sister

The female agent looked at him and told him in Italian that she was an Italian Canadian in Italian and didn’t appreciate that kind of language. We all stopped dead in our tracks, and I just knew this was not going to end well.

Then she asked specifically to see his passport. When he handed it over to her, she looked at it.

She then looked up and gave the biggest smile I had ever seen from an immigration and customs agent.

In my experience, they never smile.

“Sorry but Portuguese citizens need a visa to visit Canada, and I see you have no visa.” It was immensely satisfying for her to force us to turn our car around to go back in the other direction.

While that ruined our plan to see the Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side, it taught my passenger an important lesson about respect for authority. I have no idea if she would have acted differently or been more helpful if not for the cursing, but on the American side of Niagara Falls we were stuck.

Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls, Canada, Photo by Author’s Sister

Unfortunately, the advent of terrorism in the twenty-first century makes travel across the Rainbow Bridge a little more difficult today. The immigration agents ask more questions, inspect your car, and require Americans to have passports or passport cards than before 9/11.

However, the Falls still sparkle as brightly as they did in my youth. Now that my daughter is a toddler, I’ll have to take her there this summer.

Iguazu Falls and the Fraternity Bridge

The Iguazu Falls is a beautiful set of waterfalls that border Brazil and Argentina in South America. The bridge that enables locals and tourists alike to traverse and view the Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides is the Fraternity Bridge. The Iguazu Falls pour out over the middle of the Iguacu River.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Photo by Author

While I was in the Iguazu Falls, I didn’t make it across the bridge, but it was visible from the Argentine side where I stayed.

The best views of the falls are on the Argentine side. I considered heading to Brazil across the Fraternity bridge to see the Brazilian side but decided it wasn’t worth the $100 Visa requirement for an American for only a day visit.

Using travel points from my consulting job, I could stay free at the Sheraton property close to the Iguazu Falls. My amenity gift was a bottle of champagne and charcuterie board which I enjoyed on a terrace overlooking the Falls. I remember telling myself in that instant “God, I LOVE my job!”.

The Sheraton Terrace overlooking Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Photo by Author’s friend

One of the most fascinating feats I discovered while visiting the Falls was the number of bridges and walkways that have been built in and around the falls to enable up-close viewing. The French Architect, Charles Thays designed these bridges and walkways back in the early 1900s and construction began as far back as 1912.

One of many Iguazu Bridges, Photo by Author’s friend

I remember marveling at not only the engineering ingenuity of the design of the bridges and walkways but also the bravery of the men who dared to traverse the river rapids to build the passages in the first place. After walking these many bridges and walkways, I finally came to the finale, an up-close and personal viewing of Devil’s Throat.

Bridges over Devil’s Throat, Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Photo by Author

It’s amazing to think about the engineering and building risks taken to create this network of bridges over the Falls to give visitors such an intense experience.

Hanging over the bridge you hear and feel the violent rush of water that could take you away at a moment’s notice.

Victoria Falls and the Victoria Falls Bridge

Victoria Falls is a gorgeous set of Falls over the Zambezi River which separates the countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Victoria Falls Bridge runs over a gorge between Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and Livingstone, Zambia. The bridge is not only a famous border to cross countries but also a key place to do bungee jumping and ziplining over the gorge.

Victoria Falls, Bridge, Zambia, Photo by Author

It’s one of the few places in the world for bungee jumping and ziplining between borders.

While waiting for our ziplining adventure, I enjoyed watching individuals jumping fearlessly off that bridge and into the abyss of the gorge.

I laughed when I heard fearsome talk on the bridge which then let loose to screams of terror on the way down with an attached ankle to a bungee cord!

I also watched so many trucks crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia bringing important food products and other goods to trade at open markets and in stores. Lines of trucks could be watched stalled waiting at the immigration and customs crossings between countries.

Customers waiting to bungee jump or zipline with trucks waiting, Victoria Falls Bridge, Photo by Author’s Friend

Most visitors do spend time on both the Victoria Falls and Livingstone sides of the falls. The Victoria Falls side has better viewing of the Falls, but the Livingstone side gets you above the Falls where you can be up close and personal in pools of water right above the Falls.

My family and I had the opportunity to tour the Angel’s Pool in Livingstone. The tour takes you on a boat close to the top of the Falls. You are then taken to a land area where you get into pools right above the Falls.

I was so close to the Falls that I could reach my hand out and almost touch them!

Angel’s Pool Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia, Photo by Author’s Guide

None of these activities could be enjoyed without vital access to the Victoria Falls Bridge.

While these bridges that cross borders, major rivers, and Falls are not the most beautiful or interesting bridges I have ever seen, they play an important role in transporting people, goods, and cultures across countries.

They permit different views of waterfalls, and they even provide for some of the best bungee jumping and ziplining in the world.

Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Photo by Author

Thanks for Reading!

I picked some other interesting articles for this month’s challenge of bridges since my submission came late this month. I encourage you to read them too!

Brad Yonaka’s article on this bridge that ends in a church in Colombia. Colombia is one of my favorite visits!

Serhii Onkov’s article on invisible bridges in Ukraine that once belonged to the Austro-Hungary and the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth. Ukraine is my ancestral home and will always have a special place in my heart.

References:

The Past, Present, and Future of the Iguazú Falls — Journey Latin America

Monthly Challenge
Travel
Borders
Waterfall
Waterfall Bridge
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