Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory and Whirlpool Aero Car

 One of the lesser known attractions of Niagara Falls is the beautiful Butterfly Conservatory, which is pretty close to the Floral Clock and the Aero Car. 

The Butterfly Conservatory is a must-see if you are visiting Niagara Falls. Visitors are instantly transported to a tropical paradise full of lush vegetation, trickling waterfalls and thousands of vibrantly coloured butterflies.

Over 2000 butterflies are there, floating and hovering all around you. If you are lucky, some will even land on your outstretched hands for a quick picture.

I took my trusty DSLR with me. You cannot take some of these pictures with a cellphone camera - at least not that quickly, and not without software assist!

It's a self guided walking tour, and does not take too long. You can budget an hour comfortably for this attraction, and include an extra half an hour in case you really want to take your time. I was pausing and taking pictures all the time, and was part of a big group (all family), and yet the tour was done in an hour.

This butterfly - I don't recall the species - had really big markings of what looked like an 'eye' on its wings. Viewed from afar, I could understand why. It does look like a snake or some other big animal from far (probably keeps away predators).

The patterns on the wings of some of these butterflies was too spectacular. Take a look at this one above - the pattern makes it appear that there's another insect (a bee or a wasp), hovering nearby.

They have feeding stations throughout the place, so you see butterflies coming in for a snack.

No social distancing here at this butterfly "dawat" on this plate! For us humans, the COVID19 rules meant you had to wear a mask at all times, and practice physical distancing.

Once you are done the Butterfly Conservatory, it's a short drive to the Whirlpool Aero Car.

Designed by renowned Spanish engineer, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, the Whirlpool Aero Car has been soaring the Niagara Gorge since 1916. The antique cable car is suspended from six sturdy cables and offers spectacular views of the swirling Niagara Whirlpool and the Class 6 whitewater rapids of the Niagara River.

Another interesting point to note: because of the way the river flows, the Aero Car actually crosses the international border twice, even though both ends of the cable car are connected to Canadian lands. 

In the image below, everything to the left is USA, and to the right (in the shadows) is Canada.

What you are seeing here (image above) is the Whirlpool State Park (USA), as viewed from a cable car in Canada.

This is the whirpool (image above). This is class 6 rapids, and you can actually take a boat tour on it. The way the Whirpool Aero Car manages its loading (following Covid19 restrictions), you get to see both sides (the river and the whirlpool).

So next time you visit Niagara Falls, do take the time to check these sights out. All these close by 5 pm, so be early!