Princess Falls (Hamilton, Ontario)

Infobox Waterfall
name = Princess Falls


image_size =
caption = Princess Falls
location = Hamilton, Ontario
latitude =
longitude =
coordinates = coord|43.245453|-79.929571
elevation =
type = Ribbon/Plunge
height = convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on
width = convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on
height_longest =
average_width =
number_drops =
average_flow =
watercourse = Lang's Creek
world_rank =

Princess Falls is a 7 metre ribbon/plunge waterfall found near the "Chedoke Radial Trail" in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.cite web|publisher=(www.cityofwaterfalls.ca)| title =Hamilton- Waterfall Capital of the World| url=http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/| accessdate = 2008-07-29] Best viewed after a heavy rain or snow melt. cite web|url=http://www.conservationhamilton.ca/parks/visit/scenicfalls.asp|title=Hamilton Conservation Authority: Parks & Attractions- Scenic Falls|accessdate=2008-07-29] Also known as "Lower Princess Falls".cite web|url=http://www.hamiltonnature.org/waterfalls/slideshow/slideshow.htm|title=Hamilton Nature, slide show: Princess Falls|accessdate=2008-08-20]

Many of the falls in west Hamilton are accessible from the Chedoke Radial Trail. It is built on what was once the route for the Brantford and "Hamilton Electric Railway" owned by the "Cataract Power Light and Traction Company" (later Dominion Power and Transmission).cite web|url=http://www.conservationhamilton.ca/parks/visit/scenicfalls.asp|title=Hamilton Conservation Authority: Parks & Attractions- Scenic Falls|accessdate=2008-07-29] The "Five Johns", (John Cameron, John Dickenson (Canadian politician), John Morison Gibson, John Moodie, Sr. and John Sutherland), form "The Cataract Power Co. Ltd." introducing electric power to Hamilton in 1898. On August 25th 1898, power was sent twenty seven miles from "DeCew Falls", St. Catharines, using water from the old Welland Canal. New industries, such as the forerunners of the Steel Co. of Canada (Stelco) and Canadian Westinghouse, were attracted here by the cheaper, more efficient power. One time this Company controlled hydro power from Brantford to St. Catharines, including the Hamilton Street Railway and the area's radial lines. Back then the city's nickname was "The Electric City."cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol II, 1876-1924)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1991]

Nearby attractions include the Bruce Trail, Chedoke Radial Trail, Stairway to Chedoke Golf Course, Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area and a number of other waterfalls in the area.cite web|url=http://www.conservationhamilton.ca/parks/visit/princessfalls.asp|title=Hamilton Conservation Authority: Parks & Attractions- Princess Falls|accessdate=2008-07-29]

The top of the falls is located beside Highway 403.cite web|url=http://www.hamiltonnature.org/waterfalls/slideshow/slideshow.htm|title=Hamilton Nature, slide show: Princess Falls|accessdate=2008-07-29]

Directions

Travel to Dundurn Street South to the base of the escarpment and get off halfway up the 326-step metal stairway, make a right onto the "Chedoke Radial Trail" and head westward towards the "Chedoke Golf Course". There are a number of other waterfalls along this trail and they include; Scenic Falls, Mountview Falls, Westcliffe Falls, Cliffview Falls, Denlow Falls and Chedoke Falls.cite book| title = Hamilton Waterfalls and Cascades: Research & Inventory Report, 2nd Edition| publisher = Hamilton Conservation Authority| date = November 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/ Hamilton- "The Waterfall Capital of the World" (www.cityofwaterfalls.ca)]
* [http://www.brucetrail.org Bruce Trail (www.brucetrail.org)]
* [http://www.hamiltonpostcards.com/pages/waterfalls.html Vintage Postcards: Waterfalls in and around Hamilton, Ontario]

Maps

* [http://map.hamilton.ca/Static/PDFs/General%20Interest%20maps/Overall%20City/WaterfallMap.pdf Hamilton Waterfall Map PDF. (http://map.hamilton.ca)]
* [http://www.hamiltonnature.org/waterfalls/waterfalls.html
]