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The roaring majesty of Niagara Falls in Canada

You can never go wrong with a classic. If you're considering a locum tenens assignment in Canada, Niagara Falls is as classic as it gets. Located an hour-and-a-half drive south around the western end of Lake Ontario, Niagara has long been one of the must-see destinations in North America.

A world wonder

The falls themselves are a crescent-shaped cataract. The Niagara River sends 6 million cubic feet of water crashing down a 180-foot drop every minute. That's like 70 Olympic-sized swimming pools falling off a 15-story building. Every minute!

These iconic falls are a perennial favorite for those visiting Ontario, and Hollywood has capitalized on that appeal for generations. The popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise used the falls to represent the literal edge of the world in the 2007 movie At World's End. Standing near the edge of that crashing water, you can almost believe that's true.

Over the falls in a barrel

The falls also hold a certain cult appeal for daredevils. Annie Taylor, a schoolteacher from Michigan, was the first person to brave the falls in a barrel. Taylor made the drop in 1901, earning herself the title "Queen of the Mist" and inspiring a litany of thrill-seekers to take the plunge in a nearly comical assortment of barrel-like and often homemade contraptions.

But don't get your hopes up to tackle the falls yourself. The last person to make the attempt survived the fall and swam to safety only to be taken to the hospital for treatment and a meeting with local authorities. The stunt earned him a $2,300 dollar fine and a lifetime ban from Canada.

While the falls are certainly the draw for Niagara, they aren't the only reason to visit. The site also hosts one of the largest butterfly conservatories in North America and nearly 100 acres of well-kept botanical gardens. Southeast Canada is beautiful country, and Niagara Falls is reason enough to look to this portion of Canada for your next locum adventure.