John Benson (American, B. 1949) "Niagara Falls" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood Postal Card 30c Niagara Falls issue of August 21, 1991. Northwestern New York State and southern Ontario, Canada, share one of nature's most spectacular phenomenon -- Niagara Falls. Ten thousand years ago, receding glaciers exposed an escarpment and formed a cataract by permitting waters from Lake Erie to flow north into Lake Ontario, giving birth to the falls. Surrounded by lushly wooded landscape, they remained in primordial isolation -- unseen and untouched by European man until 1678, when Louis Hennepin accompanied French explorer Robert la Salle on an expedition to the region and later described the waterfall in his narrative "Nouvelle D?couverte." The falls are divided by Goat Island into two principle parts -- the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the United States' American Falls. Situated on the international line between the Canadian and American twin cities of Niagara Falls, this breath-taking natural wonder has been a favorite honeymoon destination and publicity stunt site for decades. In recent years both the Canadian and United States governments have diverted the rush of waters upstream -- both for conservation and hydroelectric power generation. With careful monitoring and prudent use of resources, this magnificent vestige of primitive beauty will surge and thunder for generations to come. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 23 x 18 in. Unframed. (B12476)