CANADA: Mississauga Is A Populous City And Fairly Safe, But Muggings Can Sometimes Happen

Mississauga is a city southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's largest suburb and Canada's sixth largest city.

Mississauga is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, bordering Toronto.

With a population of 721,599 as of the 2016 census, Mississauga is the sixth-most populous municipality in Canada, third-most in Ontario, and second-most in the Greater Toronto Area.

It is also one of the most populous suburbs in the world outside of Asia.

The growth of Mississauga is attributed to its proximity to Toronto. During the latter-half of the 20th century, the city attracted a multicultural population and built-up a thriving central business district.

It is home to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's busiest airport, as well as the headquarters of many Canadian and multinational corporations. Residents of the city are called Mississaugans or Saugans

Mississauga covers 288.42 square kilometres (111.36 sq mi) of land, fronting 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) of shoreline on Lake Ontario.

Mississauga is bounded by Oakville and Milton to the west/southwest, Brampton to the north, Toronto to the east, and Lake Ontario to the south/south-east.

Halton Hills borders Mississauga's north-west corner. With the exception of the southeast border with Toronto (Etobicoke Creek), Mississauga shares a land border with all previously mentioned municipalities.

Two major river valleys feed into the lake. The Credit River is by far the longest with the heaviest flow, it divides the western side of Mississauga from the central/eastern portions and enters the lake at the Port Credit harbour.

The indented, mostly forested valley was inhabited by first nation peoples long before European exploration of the area. The valley is protected and maintained by the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA).

Etobicoke Creek forms part of the eastern border of Mississauga with the city of Toronto. North of there it passes through the western limits of Pearson Airport.

There have been two aviation accidents, in 1978 and 2005 where aircraft overshot the runaway and slid into the Etobicoke creek banks.

In 1954, heavy flooding resulted in some homes along the riverbank being swept into the lake after heavy rains from Hurricane Hazel. Since that storm, houses are no longer constructed along the floodplain.

The creek and its tributaries are administered by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

Most land in Mississauga drains to either of the two main river systems, with the exception of the smaller Mary Fix and Cooksville Creeks which run roughly through the center of Mississauga entering the lake near Port Credit.

Some small streams and reservoirs are part of the Sixteen Mile Creek system in the far north-west corner of the city, but these drain toward the lake in neighbouring Milton and Oakville.

The shoreline of former Glacial Lake Iroquois roughly follows the Dundas Street alignment, although it is not noticeable in some places but is more prominent in others, such as the site of the former brickyard Shoreline Dr. near Mavis Rd.

The ancient shoreline promenteau affords a clear view of downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario on clear days.

The land in Mississauga in ranges from a maximum elevation of 214 m (699 ft) ASL in the far western corner, near the Hwy. 407/401 junction, to a minimum elevation at the Lake Ontario shore of 76 m (249 ft) ASL.

Apart from the embankments of Credit River valley, it tributaries and the Iroquois shoreline, the only noticeable hills in Mississauga are actually part of the former Britannia Landfill, now a golf course on Terry Fox Way.

Mississauga's climate is considered to be moderate, and is located in plant hardiness zone 6b. Mississauga has a humid continental climate.Summers can bring periods of high temperatures accompanied with high humidity.

While the average daily high temperature in July and August is 27 °C (80.6 °F), temperatures can rise above 32 °C (89.6 °F). In an average summer, there are an average of 15.8 days where the temperature rises above 30 °C (86.0 °F).

Winters can be cold with temperatures that are frequently below freezing. In January and February, the mean temperature is −6 °C (21.2 °F) although it is common for temperatures to fall to −15 °C (5.0 °F).

In an average winter, there are an average of 3.9 days where the temperature falls below −20 °C (−4.0 °F).

Occasionally, there can be brief periods of warmer weather during the winter season. Compared to the rest of Canada and Ontario, the amount of snowfall received during the season is relatively low.

On average, Mississauga receives 108.5 centimetres (42.7 in) of snow per year and there are 44.4 days with measurable snowfall.

The climate of Mississauga is officially represented by Pearson International Airport but because of its topography and large surface area conditions can differ depending on location.

Fog tends to be more common along the lakeshore and in the Credit River Valley at certain times of year, particularly during the spring and autumn.

During snowfalls when temperatures hover close to freezing, northern parts of the city, such as around Derry Road away from warmer Lake Ontario usually get more snow that sticks to the ground because of the lower temperatures.

The reverse occurs when a strong storm approaches from the south kicking up lake effect snow, bringing higher snowfall totals to south Mississauga.

The city usually experiences 6 months of snow free weather however there is the odd occurrence where snow does fall either in October or May.

The Port Credit and Lakeview areas have a micro-climate more affected by the proximity of the open lake, warming winter temperatures as a result but it can be sharply cooler on spring and summer afternoons, this can also be the case in Clarkson, but with much less consistency.

Most thunderstorms are not severe but can occasionally bring violent winds.

The last known tornado to cause significant damage touched down on 7 July 1985, when an F1 rated tornado struck an industrial park in the Meadowvale area on Argentia Road, heavily damaging some buildings and some parked tractor trailers.

A relatively strong tornado tore a path across Mississauga then part of Toronto Township on 24 June 1923, cutting a swath from present-day Meadowvale to near Cooksville, killing 4 people and causing massive property damage in a time when most of Mississauga was still rural farmland dotted with fruit orchards.

Mississauga has many different neighbourhoods including the incorporated townships. There are 23 neighbourhoods in Mississauga.

- Applewood

- Central Erin Mills

- Churchill Meadows

- Credit Valley

- Clarkson/Lorne Park

- Cooksville

- East Credit

- Erindale

- Fairview

- Hurontario

- Lakeview

- Lisgar

- Malton

- Meadowvale

- Meadowvale Village

- Mineola

- Mississauga Valleys

- Port Credit

- Rathwood

- Sheridan

- Streetsville

Mississauga was a fast-growing city until 2016 when the population growth rate fell below the national average. It is also multicultural city with 57.15% of the city's population identified as visible minorities.

Statistics Canada estimates that Mississauga now has 734,000 people,an increase of 150,000 from the previous decade and the population has roughly doubled in the past twenty-five years.

Also, the Regional Municipality of Peel estimates that as of 2016, the city of Mississauga has a population of 758,000, based on the Canada 2006 Census which as of the Canada 2016 Census, is about 27,000 over expected.

Mississauga is now the third most populous city on the Great Lakes; far smaller than Chicago and Toronto, but recently surpassing the cities proper of Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.

About 52% of the population speaks a language other than English, and 52.4% of the population are members of a visible minority - non-white or non-aboriginal.

18% of the population is under 14 years of age, compared to those of retirement age; 8.51%. The median (middle) age in Mississauga is 35.0.

Christianity is the majority faith of the city. The 2011 census indicated that 59.9% of the population are adherents, with Catholics constituting 36.9%, while the remaining 23.0% belong to various Protestant, Orthodox Christian, and other Christian groups.

Other practiced faiths were Islam (11.9%), Hinduism (7.0%) Sikhism (3.4%), Buddhism (2.2%), and Judaism (0.3%). Those who claimed no religious affiliation made up 14.9% of the population.

The 2011 census found that English was spoken as single mother tongue by 47.6% of the population. The next most common languages were Urdu (4.9%), Polish (4.1%), Punjabi (3.2%), Arabic (3.1%), Tagalog (2.8%), and Portuguese (2.5%).

Over 60 of the Fortune 500 companies base their Global or Canadian Head Offices in Mississauga. Some of the strongest industries are pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, electronics and computers, Aerospace, transportation parts and equipment industries.

TD Bank also has Corporate IT development centres in the city along with Royal Bank of Canada. Laura Secord Chocolates is headquartered in the city, and Hewlett Packard's main Canada offices are also in Mississauga.

Air Georgian, a regional airline, is headquartered in Mississauga as well. Air Canada Jazz operates a regional office in Mississauga and Kam Air has its North American office in Mississauga.

Mississauga is also an aircraft development hub with Canadian headquarters of Aerospace companies such as Magellan Aerospace and Honeywell Aerospace.

In addition Walmart Canada, Kellogg's Canada, Panasonic Canada, Esprida and NetSuite have their Canadian head offices in the city.

Mississauga has a growing arts community, which is promoted by the Mississauga Arts Council, which holds an annual awards ceremony, called the MARTYs, to celebrate the city's artists, filmmakers, writers and musicians.

Mississauga's largest festivities such as Canada Day Celebration, Mississauga Rotary Ribfest, Tree Lighting Ceremony, and New Years' Eve Bash generally occur in Celebration Square.

The Canada Day celebration was attended by 130,000 people in 2012, the Ribfest has recorded 120,000 visitors in 2012, and the inaugural New Years' Eve in 2011 has attracted 30,000 spectators.

One of the most anticipated events in the city is Carassauga, a festival of cultures that occurs annually during mid-May. It is the second largest cultural festival in Canada.

During 2013, 4014 performances took place and 300,000 people attended. Carassauga attempts to display the different cultures around the world by setting up pavilions for countries around Mississauga.

Visitors get free public transportation with their ticket to tour the city and explore the different pavilions. Various countries showcase their culture through food stalls, dance performances and small vendors.

The event largely takes place in the Hershey Centre, where an outdoor stage is set up amidst many tiny pavilions. Other venues include the Tomken Twin Arena, the Canadian Coptic Centre and the Frank McKechnie Community Centre.

There are also culture-specific festivals held in Celebration Square.

Here Fiesta Ng Kalayaan for the Philippines, Viet Summerfest for Vietnam, Muslimfest for the city's Muslim community, and Mosaic Festival, which is the largest South Asian multi-disciplinary arts festival in North America.

The village of Streetsville holds its annual Bread and Honey Festival every first weekend of June at Streetsville Memorial Park to commemorate the founding of the village of Streetsville.

The festival has been incorporated in 1974, in response to amalgamation with the city of Mississauga. Activities include the Bread and Honey Race, which raises money for charities and local hospitals.

It also has its own annual Canada Day celebrations, which are also held at Streetsville Memorial Park.

Another former town, Port Credit, Ontario holds multiple festivals throughout the year. During the summer, there are street performances on multiple venues scattered throughout the former town during Buskerfest.

The town also holds a grand parade named - Paint the Town Red - during Canada Day. Finally, during August, the town holds the Mississauga Waterfront Festival, which includes concerts as well as family activities.

During September, the Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle is being held to celebrate the town's Blues and Jazz Festival, which includes musical performances from local blues and jazz artists.

The community of Malton, which contains a significant number of Sikhs, holds its annual Khalsa Day parade, marching between Sri Guru Singh Sabha or Malton Gurdwara and Sikh Spiritual Centre - Rexdale Gurdwara Sahib, in Toronto. This parade is attended by 100,000 people.

Mississauga has a significant number of Jews, with active community classes, cultural activities and holiday celebrations.

In 2006, with the help of Project for Public Spaces, the city started hosting - My Mississauga - summer festivities at its Civic Square. Mississauga planned over 60 free events to bring more people to the city square.

The square was transformed and included a movable stage, a snack bar, extra seating, and sports and gaming facilities, basketball nets, hockey arena, chess and checker boards including a skate park.

Some of the events included Senior's day on Tuesday, Family day on Wednesday, Vintage car Thursdays, with the main events being the Canada Day celebration, Rotary Ribfest, Tree Lighting Ceremony, and Beachfest.

Civic Square has completed its restructuring project using federal stimulus money, which features a permanent stage, a larger ice rink which also serves as a fountain and wading pool during the summer season, media screens, and a permanent restaurant.

It officially reopened at 22 June 2011 and has since been renamed as Mississauga Celebration Square. More events have been added such as holding free outdoor live concerts, and live telecast of UEFA European Football Championship.

The square also holds weekly programming such as fitness classes, amphitheatre performances and movie nights during the summer, children's activities during spring and fall, and skate parties during the winter.

The opening of the square has also allowed the city to hold its first annual New Years' Eve celebration in 2011.

The upper and lower parts of the square used to be separated by a segment of City Centre Drive.

However, pedestrian safety issues and commitment to building a vibrant downtown led the city council to permanently close this segment, uniting the upper and lower parts of the square.

In October 2012, the square had attracted its one millionth visitor.

The Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM) is a public, not-for-profit art gallery located in the Mississauga Civic Centre right on Celebration Square across from the Living Arts Centre and Square One Shopping Centre.

AGM is sponsored by the City of Mississauga, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council.

The art gallery offers free admission and tours and is open everyday. AGM has over 500 copies and is working on creating a digital gallery led by gallery assistant Aaron Guravich.

Mississauga also boasts one of the largest shopping malls in Canada called Square One Shopping Centre, located at the City Centre. It has 350+ retail stores and services and attracts 24 million annual visits.

It is operating on most holidays, apart from Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, making it the only shopping mall in the city and one of the few in the Greater Toronto Area that do so.

The mall is surrounded by several bars and restaurants, as well as the City Hall, the Central Library, and Playdium.

Erin Mills Town Centre, the second largest mall in Mississauga. It is located at the western edge of the city, near Eglinton Avenue at Erin Mills Parkway.

The mall used to be notable by a clock tower placed in the center of the building. As its successor, the clock has been replaced with an iconic glass sphere 283 feet in circumference, as a part of the mall's $100 million redevelopment project.

The mall also used to have a movie theatre, a mini-golf course, and a daycare centre, all of which were converted to retail space

Located at the southeastern corner of the city is the Dixie Outlet Mall, which is Canada's largest enclosed outlet mall.

It opened in 1956, making it Mississauga's first shopping mall, even though the city at that time was still known as Toronto Township, Ontario. Many factory outlets of premium brands are located in this mall.

As a supporter of Bullfrog Power, it operates using 100% renewable energy. Heartland Town Centre is an unenclosed outlet mall with 180 stores and restaurants.

A flea market, the Fantastic Flea Market, is Mississauga's oldest flea market, which opened in 1976.

Erin Mills Town Centre and Dixie Outlet Mall are both closed for most holidays, except for Civic Holiday.

Toronto's Pearson International Airport is the main regional airport serving Canada's largest city, as a result it is reasonably well served by flights from cities across Canada as well as many American cities and several European, Asian, Latin American, African and Oceanian cities.

The Airport is a short taxi ride from anywhere in Mississauga.Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ), operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority in the northeastern part of the city, is the largest and busiest airport in Canada.

In 2015, it handled 41,036,847 passengers and 443,958 aircraft movements.It is a major North American global gateway, handling more international passengers than any airport in North America other than John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Pearson is the main hub for Air Canada, and a hub for passenger airline WestJet and cargo airline FedEx Express. It is served by over 75 airlines having over 180 destinations.

Mississauga is served by 4 major expressways.

The 401 links Mississauga with Windsor, Detroit and beyond in the West direction, and Kingston, Ottawa, and Quebec in the East direction.

The 403 links to Hamilton and Niagara Falls in the west, and connects with the 401 and 410. The 410 leads to Brampton in the North.

The QEW links Mississauga with the Gardiner Expressway and downtown Toronto in the east, and connects with the 403 in the west.

The 407 is an East-West toll route running parallel with the 401.

Mississauga is reasonably accessible from Toronto by transit. GO Transit runs trains during rush hour and buses the rest of the day from various terminals in Toronto to several stations in Mississauga.

Square One shopping centre contains the main bus terminal for the city, it is regularly served by GO buses as well as local Mississauga Transit buses.

MiWay is operated by the City of Mississauga. Because of the lack of urban planning in its early years, the city has become too spread out, causing it to be difficult to traverse without a personal car.

As a result, the transit system is still used, yet the routes are somewhat infrequent, waiting times are typically 15 to 45 minutes on week days, and some bus routes are only offered exclusively on week days.

In an effort to increase their number of passengers however, Mississauga has put in major efforts to improve the system, including their Clicknride web page, which plans out the most appropriate trip for the rider as well.

As of April 27, 2015, a ride on a Mississauga Transit bus costs $3.50, and transfers for free entry onto buses within the following one and a half hour since the beginning of the route must be requested when you are paying.

Transfers can also be used for discounts on other public transportation systems in adjacent areas.

The transit system operates two types of services:

MiWay Local which can be recognized by the orange/white bus livery. This operates like the old Mississauga Transit using most of the same routes with new routes being added as more areas of the city get developed.

The current fleet of buses are being replaced with newer hybrid-electric buses.

MiWay Express which can be recognized by the blue/white bus livery. All express routes except Routes 107,109, and 110 operate only during weekday morning and evening rush hours.

These buses travel on expressways and major thoroughfares making a limited number of stops at designated bus stops. Buses are equipped with reading lights and power outlets at each seat.

Route 110 runs throughout the day each day including weekends and holidays. Routes 107 and 109 also operate on Saturdays except holidays.

A 12-station busway similar to Ottawa's transitway is being built along Highway 403 from Winston Churchill Boulevard to Renforth Drive via the City Centre.

This will provide faster service for passengers by cutting commuting times by as much as half. The first phase of the bus rapid transit project has been completed with stations at Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken, and Dixie.

The remaining east to Renforth and west to Winston Churchill sections were completed in 2016.

Toronto Transit Commision (TTC) services some of the east end of the city near the Toronto boundary.

Oakville Transit services some of the west end of the city near the Oakville boundary.

Blue & White Taxi

Golden City Taxi

In 2010, the City of Mississauga approved a Cycling Master Plan outlining a strategy to develop over 900 kilometres (560 miles) of on and off-road cycling routes in the city over the next 20 years.

Over 1,000 Mississauga citizens and stakeholders contributed their thoughts and ideas to help develop this plan.

The plan focuses on fostering cycling as a way of life in the city, building an integrated network of cycling routes and aims to adopt a safety first approach to cycling.

Port Credit An older, historic village at the centre of Mississauga's Lake Ontario shore features many intimate small restaurants, cafes and bars. Annual events include the Waterfront Festival and Jazz/Bluefest.

Nice Marina and walking paths at the Credit River entrance and along the lakeshore.

Streetsville. This small village is where the renowned mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, resides. It has many shops, restaurants, and green areas to explore.

Visit in June to enjoy the Bread and Honey Festival or in winter months for Remembrance Day services and the Santa Claus Parade.

Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM), 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga Civic Centre, Ground Floor.. Monday-Wednesday, Friday 10am-5pm; Thursday 10am-8pm; Weekends 12pm-4pm.

The AGM has over 3000 square feet divided into four gallery spaces, and programmes approximately 10 exhibitions a year of national and international contemporary art. Free.

Parks. Mississauga has over 350 parks of various sizes. Many small parkettes with trees and park benches form green spaces in busy neighbourhoods.

Other large sports parks feature baseball diamonds, tennis courts, soccer and football fields. There is also an authentic Japanese park right in the City Centre as well as 9 picnic parks, many of them offering barbeque facilities.

Wahoosh Falls. To get a sample of the nearby Hamilton waterfalls concentration, head down the ravine at Burnhamthorpe Rd W and Mississauga Rd. A miniature 10ft waterfall is a fair reward after a healthy urban hike.

Playdium A large video arcade that also has wall climbing and go-karting. Some nights you are able to pay a flat fee for three hours of arcade gaming.

Golf. Mississauga features two primary golf courses: The BraeBen Golf Course and The Lakeview Golf Course. The Lakeview features an 18-Hole course, while The BraeBen features a 9 and 18-hole championship course.

Hershey Centre. A sports and entertainment facility which has staged numerous high profile events including regional, provincial, national and world hockey championships, Skate Canada, and concerts.

Fishing. The Credit River is a jewel set in the heart of southern Ontario, Canada. The Credit boasts huge runs of Chinook salmon and steelhead as well as some coho, pink and Atlantic salmon.

Scooter's Roller Palace. Just south of the Clarkson GO station, this is a popular option for families and teenagers. Skate rentals available.

West 50 is good for a selection of more than 100 beers on tab.

Square One, Ontario's largest mall.

Erin Mills Town Centre

Heartland Town Centre, a shopping complex located in the eastern part of the city mostly consisting of big box stores.

Old Credit Brewery, 6 Queen St. W. Tel:905-2719888, Open 10-19, Excellent small brewery that sells an ale and a pilsner.

Dixie Outlet Mall

Streetsville. Small shops along Queen Street including accessories for home and garden and vintage clothing.

Starsky Fine Foods, 2040 Dundas St. East, Second location at 3115 Dundas St. West. A bustling local Polish supermarket chain with top quality yet affordable deli meats, cheese and desserts.

Buy Houses for Sale in Mississauga, 30 Eglinton Ave West. Buy Houses for Sale in Mississauga Ontario located in various areas of the city near schools, amenities, transit and shopping.

Axia Restaurant and Bar, 5045 Plantation Place, along Eglinton Ave W near Erin Mills. In the community of Erin Mills. A nicely designed ambient place with fully authentic Asian food being produced from separate kitchens.

Specializes in Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisine. Mains $15-20, appetizers $5-10. Fully liquor licensed with unique flavoured Korean soju and alcoholic bubble tea. A must for any Asian food lover and enough variety to last countless visits.

Nirvana, 35 Brunnel Road in the north end of Mississauga close to Brampton. the Flavors of India. Slightly upscale Indian restaurant . It is a friendly place with great food.

Moxie's Classic Grill. Locations in Meadowvale and Square One.

Richtree Market Restaurant. Located in Square One, this market-style restaurant allows you to see your food being freshly made throughout the day. Offers a nice ambiance in the middle of an otherwise hectic area.

The Apricot Tree Cafe, 1900 Dundas St. W., Mississauga, ON The Apricot Tree is on Dundas St. between the Erin Mills Pkwy and Mississauga Rd. Monday 10am-9pm, Tuesday-Friday 10am-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm, closed Sunday.

Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, with a wide range of excellent pastries and cakes for dessert. Features an open kitchen design which allows guests to watch their order being prepared.

Breakfast average $8; lunch mains average $11; dinner mains average $17.

West 50, 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. The Sussex Centre. Mo-Th: 11am-1am,Fr: 11am-2am, sa:4pm-2am, Su:5pm-2am.

Excellent steaks, salads and desserts. Stylish interior with a huge stainless steel bar on the inside and two rings of tables at different levels around it.

They have more than 100 beers from around Canada and the rest of the world on tap, try a 6-beer sampler menu if cannot decide $20 for mains.

Master Steaks, 5895 Dixie Road, three lights north of the 401. open late. This is about the cheapest place in Mississauga where you can get a steak dinner for less than $20. Portions are very generous for the price.

Atmosphere is somewhat reminiscent of a 70's fast food eatery where you place your order at the till and wait until your number is called.

Very popular with the after-hours bar crowd. Look out for specials under $15. Licensed. Take out available. $7-$25.

Bistro Narra, 3030 Thomas Street, Unit A404, West of Winston Churchill Blvd. Sister restaurant of Apricot Tree. Wonderful bistro-style food, with great desserts.

Especially check out the Prix Fixe and Crepe Fest menus at both restaurants when they are available. Lunch $10-18. Dinner starts at $15.

Arkady Bistro Cafe, 3631 Dixie Rd near Burnhamthorpe. Great Polish cafe that serve generous portions. Excellent mains and salads. Website is in Polish. $11-30.

Song Cook's, 1310 Dundas St E west of Dixie Rd. Mississauga location of a local Korean restaurant chain. Hearty Korean stews and dishes. Great lunch and group specials.

Man Doo Hyang, 169 Dundas St E near Kirwin Ave. Another local Korean chain restaurant. Specializes in dumplings, and has delicious tabletop cooking, including family-sized stews and barbecued meats.

Lucy's Seafood Kitchen, 6905 Millcreek Drive, Unit 8. Cajun-style seafood restaurant, serving lunch and dinner. Friendly, casual atmosphere, with great seafood entrees. Check out their Southern-style desserts as well.

Drink and Club in Mississauga City

&Company, 295 Enfield Place, andcompany.ca. Upscale nightclub in Mississauga City Centre featuring world-class DJ's. Strict dress code which is stylish and sophisticated enforced.

&Company is open Wednesday-Saturday 6pm-2am. Seasonal rooftop bar and patio. Bottle service available.

Blue Suede Sue's, 75 Watline Avenue, Top 40, Hip-hop, R & B, Dance. Open Thursday, Friday Ladies' night, and Saturday nights.

My Apartment Two locations is one in Mississauga and one in Oakville now called Rehab bordering Mississauga.

Sugar Daddy's, 5165 Dixie Road, 4 lights south of the 401, Mississauga. Established in 2003. Club MC is Slick Vic, with DJ Constantine.

Capitol Singles' Dance, Capitol Banquet Centre, 6435 Dixie Road, 4 lights north of the 401, Mississauga. Every Friday night from 7:00pm till 1:00am.

All singles 19 and over welcome; however, the majority of attendees tend to be the 30+ after-work crowd. DJ Dianne plays a mix of today's dance hits with the greatest hits from the 50's to the 90's as well as country, swing, waltz, polka, and latin favourites.

She also gladly takes requests. Admission is $15 as conditions apply and includes a buffet dinner served 7:30 till 9:30. Dress code, no jeans or sneakers. Cash bar. Draw and spot dances. Ample free parking.

Accomodations in Mississauga

The Waterside Inn, 15 Stavebank Road South. Waterfront hotel located in Port Credit. Uniquely decorated and furnished guest suites. Wifi, restaurant, and conference rooms.

Novotel Toronto Mississauga, 3670 Hurontario Street. The Novotel Toronto Mississauga is located 25 min from the centre of Toronto and 18 km from Pearson International Airport. 325 Rooms, Wifi, and a restaurant.

Hilton Garden Inn - Toronto/Mississauga, 100 Traders Boulevard. checkin: 3:00PM; checkout: 12:00PM. Guest rooms selected at check-in featuring single or double beds. Free complementary parking, no pets allowed.

Best Western Plus Toronto Airport Hotel, 5825 Dixie Road, Mississauga, Toronto, Ontario L4W 1E8. Complimentary airport shuttle & overnight parking, meeting and banquet fascilities, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, suites available.

Comfort Inn Airport West Mississauga, 1500 Matheson Blvd. East, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 3Z4. checkin: 2:00 p.m.; checkout: 11:00 a.m.. Complimentary 24 hour airport shuttle, free ample parking, meeting facility, suites and renovated rooms available.

Mississauga is a fairly safe city, however use common sense and vigilance at night like any other large city, as muggings can sometimes happen. The local police are friendly, trustworthy, and approachable, so any issues you have you can ask them for help.

On the weekend, clubs and bars in Mississauga can fill up with people fast. If you see a confrontation in a bar or club, it is best not to get involved, as these can escalate quickly.

For life threatening emergencies, dial 9-1-1 to be connected to Police, Fire, or Ambulance. For non-emergency inquiries, you can dial the following:

Mississauga Fire - 905-615-3777 Peel Paramedic Services - 1-800-668-7821 Peel Regional Police - 905-453-3311

On the whole, Mississauga is a safe city, and for the average tourist, you should have no problems.

Do not wait to go to Mississauga.


Tourism Observer

USA: After False Arrest And Beating By US Border Guards, Chinese Tourist Awarded US$461,000

Zhao Yan
Border agents mistakenly thought Zhao Yan was part of a drug gang in the 2004 incident.

A federal judge has ruled in favour of a Chinese businesswoman who sued the US government after being injured during a 2004 confrontation with American border agents at Niagara Falls.

Following a non-jury trial in Rochester, New York, Judge Elizabeth Wolford awarded Zhao Yan US$461,000 for false arrest, medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost earnings. Her 2006 civil rights lawsuit sought US$10 million in damages.

Wolford’s ruling Monday found the government liable for US Customs and Border Protection Officer Robert Rhodes “assault and battery and false arrest” of Zhao at the Rainbow Bridge US-Canada border crossing in Niagara Falls.

The judge found she was entitled to recover US$385,000 for past and future pain and suffering, US$64,000 in past medical expenses, US$1,800 in lost earnings and US$10,000 for false arrest. She was never charged with anything.

The case provoked anger in China after pictures of Zhao, her face swollen from pepper spray and her eyes and forehead bruised, were widely published.

This September 8, 2005 file photo, Customs and Border Protection Officer Robert Rhodes listens to his defence lawyer, Steven Cohen, after Rhodes was found not guilty in the assault of Zhao Yan at the Rainbow Bridge Plaza in Niagara Falls.

A federal judge ruled in favour of Zhao in her civil suit against the US government.

Rhodes initially was fired and criminally charged with violating Zhao’s civil rights. He was acquitted at a 2005 trial and eventually reinstated to his job. A lawyer for Rhodes did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Tianjin business owner and piano teacher, Zhao had been in the United States on a business visa to study the market for wood in Pennsylvania, court documents show. She was sightseeing as a tourist at Niagara Falls when the confrontation occurred.

In charging Rhodes, government prosecutors claimed he used excessive force when he used pepper spray on Zhao, put his knee on her back and drove her head into the pavement.

But during the 2015 civil trial, US authorities said Zhao’s injuries were her own fault because she ran from the officer and then kicked, punched and scratched him before two other officers arrived and helped restrain her on the ground.

The then 38-year-old Zhao and two other women had run from the inspection station, instead of obeying officers’ orders to come inside after they detained a drug suspect they thought may have been with the women.

Zhao said she ran because the officers frightened her.

In her lawsuit and accompanying court documents, she said the confrontation humiliated her and the mental and physical trauma she suffered left her unable to work and afraid of uniformed police.

This incident harmed almost all aspects of my life, she said in a court filing.

Zhao’s lawyers and the US Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.



Tourism Observer

GUYANA: Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is the world's largest single drop waterfall by the volume of water flowing over it, located on the Potaro River in the Kaieteur National Park, in Essequibo, Guyana. Its location is in the Amazon forest. It is 226 metres (741 ft) high when measured from its plunge over a sandstone and conglomerate cliff to the first break. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 251 metres (822 ft). While many falls have greater height, few have the combination of height and water volume, and Kaieteur is among the most powerful waterfalls in the world with an average flow rate of 663 cubic metres per second (23,400 cubic feet per second).

Kaieteur Falls is about four times higher than Niagara Falls, on the border between Canada and the United States, and about twice the height of Victoria Falls, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa. It is a single drop waterfall.

Upriver from the falls, the Potaro Plateau stretches out to the distant escarpment of the Pakaraima Mountains. The Potaro River empties into the Essequibo River which is one of the longest and widest rivers in South America and the longest river in Guyana

On April 24, 1870 Charles Barrington Brown, one of two British geologists appointed government surveyors to the colony of British Guiana (now known as Guyana), became the first European to see Kaieteur Falls. The other surveyor was James Sawkins. Brown and James Sawkins arrived in Georgetown in 1867 and did some of their mapping and preparation of geological reports together, some in separate expeditions, but Sawkins had taken a break from his work when Brown came upon Kaieteur.

At the time of discovery Brown did not have time to investigate Kaieteur Falls closer and he returned here one year later when measurements of the waterfall were made.

Brown’s book Canoe and Camp life in British Guiana was published in 1876. Two years later, in 1878, he published Fifteen Thousand Miles on the Amazon and its tributaries.

According to a Patamona Indian legend, Kaieteur Falls was named for Kai, a chief, or Toshao who acted to save his people by paddling over the falls in an act of self-sacrifice to Makonaima, the great spirit.

Another legend though was told to Brown by Amerindians in the night of discovery of falls: Kaieteur has been named after an unpleasant old man who was placed in a boat and shoved in the fall by his relatives. Thus the fall was named "Kaieteur" what means - "old-man-fall".

Kaieteur Falls is a major tourist attraction in Guyana. The falls is located in Kaieteur National Park and is in the center of Guyana's rainforest. There are frequent flights between the falls airstrip and Ogle Airport and Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown.

Kaieteur Airstrip is located at Kaieteur about a 15 minute walk from the top of Kaieteur falls. The Kaieteur airstrip serves the Kaieteur National Park.

ZIMBABWE: Miss Tourism Zim To Market Zimbabwe In Washington DC

MISS Tourism Zimbabwe organisers have dangled an irresistible carrot to prospective beauty queens that will see the winner of this year’s pageant securing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Washington DC in the United States.

Miss Tourism Zimbabwe was re-branded from Miss Carnival, which was last held in 2014 when Gamuchirayi Kujeke (pictured) was crowned queen.

The pageant’s patron, Barbara Mzembi, told NewsDay on Tuesday that preparations to identify the country’s top beauty were hotting up.

She, however, stressed that they were looking beyond outward beauty as they were seeking someone who was intelligent and passionate enough to be the face of Zimbabwe on the world stage.

“The winner of Miss Tourism, as a brand ambassador, does not only have to be beautiful, but should have passion, charm and the brains to represent Zimbabwe to the world. Winning this title is more like a job because she will have to work under pressure to coordinate all aspects of tourism. She will also be the face of the minister’s campaign,” she said.

Mzembi said the winner would travel extensively and learn more about conservation rights to enable her to spearhead the country’s tourism campaign, demonstrating how the country offered vibrant religious and eco-tourism.

The offer to travel to Washington DC, Mzembi said, came courtesy of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.

“The trip is linked to the effort made by the minister Walter Mzembi with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation and we at Miss Tourism are in support because without conservation there is no tourism,” she said.

“This trip to embody and learn conservation expertise is important because it will help us as a country to unlock our value as a tourist destination.”

Mzembi said the brand ambassador would go to I love New York Conservation Society and the Niagara Falls.

“She will go to I love New York and the Niagara Falls because it is the biggest brand in the world and she will learn how they branded because branding is a very important factor. The falls will help her tap knowledge on how we can unlock value from our (own Victoria) Falls,” she said.

USA: The Weird Thing No One Ever Told You About Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

When you think of a road trip, most people immediately imagine the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls or Mount Rushmore. They're such famous American landmarks that you might even feel like you've visited them already, even if you've never stepped foot on a plane.

But there's one thing even people who have made it to South Dakota (home of that famous presidential mountain) have probably never noticed.

Right behind President Abraham Lincoln's noggin is a hidden door that provides access to The Hall of Records. Surprised? The sculptor, wanted the room to serve as a space for some of the country's most important moments in history. Borglum died before he could finish the room, so it sat unfinished for decades until being completed in the 1990s.

Today, the room features porcelain panels with text from important documents like the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Unfortunately, tourists aren't permitted to visit the room - mostly because it's so difficult to get to - so even if you do stop by Mount Rushmore, you probably won't be able to take a gander at this novelty.

CANADA: Captain Killed Trying To Save His Dog

A post-mortem is expected Thursday on the body of a Niagara Falls fire official who reportedly died while trying to save his dog.

Capt. Tim Vail, 48, was found dead earlier this week in Vineland following a report of a missing person.

Police investigators say that Vail, who lived in Lincoln, Ont., had been walking his dogs in the area earlier in the day but that the exact circumstances of his death remain under investigation.

Todd Brunning, president of the firefighters union, said that the investigation is ongoing but that "indications are that it appears Tim died trying to rescue the family dog."

Brunning said Vail was walking the dogs in an area of Vineland called Prudhomme's Landing, an abandoned water park and hotel formerly known as Wet 'n' Wild where he had often walked his dogs.

Niagara Regional Police Const. Phillip Gavin said that the investigation into what happened is still ongoing, but they hope to issue more information Thursday afternoon.

Regional Coroner Dr. Jack Stanborough said the post-mortem examination should be finished by then, but no cause of death has been determined just yet.

"It looks like it's going to be a tragic circumstance death," Stanborough said. "It's incredibly unfortunate and just terribly unlucky."

Stanborough said there doesn't appear to be any suspicious or criminal element linked to the incident. The coroner may order a toxicity screen "just to be sure," he said.

The Niagara Falls Fire Department says the captain was a 20-year veteran of the service who is survived by his wife and two children. He started his career in 1995 and was became a captain in 2013.

Fire Chief Lee Smith said that funeral arrangements are still being made. Every firefighter in the organization wants to be there, he said, but some still have to stand by in case of an emergency or a fire.

Vail's wife Samantha and his two children Tanner and Abby are still shocked and stunned, he said. "They're taking it really hard. This is the initial grieving period," Smith said.

Vail was a man who was unyieldingly committed, Smith said. "He was a confident, go-o guy."

"He was just so personable and fun to be around."

ICELAND; Israeli Tourist Falls to His Death from Iceland Glacier

An Israeli tourist was killed Sunday after falling from a cliff at Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, the Times of Israel reported. The unidentified 65-year-old man was seriously wounded from the fall and later succumbed to his injuries. It's unclear what led to the fall.

The Foreign Ministry only reported the man was on a trip with others to look at glaciers when the incident occurred near the town of Selfoss in southern Iceland. In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry said the victim's family has been notified and confirmed that the Israeli embassy in Norway is working to transport the man's body back to Israel for burial.

This glacier is a popular tourist attraction, with tours available for visitors. The Svinafellsjokull Glacier Adventure is rated as one of the country's top activities on TripAdvisor, receiving a Certificate of Excellence.

The tragedy comes one day after authorities in the U.S. launched a search for a woman who went over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt. Last week, a Japanese tourist was killed while attempting a selfie at India's Taj Mahal.

The elderly man was with three others when he slipped down a staircase and lost consciousness. Earlier this month, a 24-year-old Australian tourist fell to her death from Norway's Trolltunga attraction. In wake of recent tragedies, travelers should be reminded to remain alert and exercise caution when traversing unfamiliar areas.

Victoria Falls Or Mosi-oa-Tunya, Accessible From Zambia And Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (Tokaleya Tonga: the Smoke that Thunders), is a waterfall in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side. Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"the smoke that thunders"—continues in common usage as well. The nearby national park in Zambia, for example, is named Mosi-oa-Tunya, whereas the national park and town on the Zimbabwean shore are both named Victoria Falls. The World Heritage List officially recognizes both names.

In 2013 the government of Zimbabwe declared its intention to officially rename the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya", citing continuity with other renamings such as Harare from Salisbury, and Zimbabwe from Rhodesia.

While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest, based on its width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) and height of 108 metres (354 ft), resulting in the world's largest sheet of falling water. Victoria Falls is roughly twice the height of North America's Niagara Falls and well over twice the width of its Horseshoe Falls. In height and width Victoria Falls is rivalled only by Argentina and Brazil's Iguazu Falls.

For a considerable distance upstream from the falls the Zambezi flows over a level sheet of basalt, in a shallow valley, bounded by low and distant sandstone hills. The river's course is dotted with numerous tree-covered islands, which increase in number as the river approaches the falls. There are no mountains, escarpments, or deep valleys; only a flat plateau extending hundreds of kilometres in all directions.

The falls are formed as the full width of the river plummets in a single vertical drop into a transverse chasm 1708 metres (5604 ft) wide, carved by its waters along a fracture zone in the basalt plateau. The depth of the chasm, called the First Gorge, varies from 80 metres (260 ft) at its western end to 108 metres (354 ft) in the centre. The only outlet to the First Gorge is a 110 metres (360 ft) wide gap about two-thirds of the way across the width of the falls from the western end, through which the whole volume of the river pours into the Victoria Falls gorges.

There are two islands on the crest of the falls that are large enough to divide the curtain of water even at full flood: Boaruka Island or Cataract Island near the western bank, and Livingstone Island near the middle—the point from which Livingstone first viewed the falls. At less than full flood, additional islets divide the curtain of water into separate parallel streams. The main streams are named, in order from Zimbabwe (west) to Zambia (east): Devil's Cataract,called Leaping Water by some, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls the highest and the Eastern Cataract.

The Zambezi river, upstream from the falls, experiences a rainy season from late November to early April, and a dry season the rest of the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May with a peak in April, The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 400 metres (1,300 ft), and sometimes even twice as high, and is visible from up to 48 km (30 mi) away. At full moon, a "moonbow" can be seen in the spray instead of the usual daylight rainbow. During the flood season, however, it is impossible to see the foot of the falls and most of its face, and the walks along the cliff opposite it are in a constant shower and shrouded in mist. Close to the edge of the cliff, spray shoots upward like inverted rain, especially at Zambia's Knife-Edge Bridge.

As the dry season takes effect, the islets on the crest become wider and more numerous, and in September to January up to half of the rocky face of the falls may become dry and the bottom of the First Gorge can be seen along most of its length. At this time it becomes possible though not necessarily safe to walk across some stretches of the river at the crest. It is also possible to walk to the bottom of the First Gorge at the Zimbabwean side. The minimum flow, which occurs in November, is around a tenth of the April figure; this variation in flow is greater than that of other major falls, and causes Victoria Falls' annual average flow rate to be lower than might be expected based on the maximum flow.

The entire volume of the Zambezi River pours through the First Gorge's 110-meter-wide (360 ft) exit for a distance of about 150 meters (500 ft), then enters a zigzagging series of gorges designated by the order in which the river reaches them. Water entering the Second Gorge makes a sharp right turn and has carved out a deep pool there called the Boiling Pot. Reached via a steep footpath from the Zambian side, it is about 150 metres (500 ft) across. Its surface is smooth at low water, but at high water is marked by enormous, slow swirls and heavy boiling turbulence. Objects—and humans—that are swept over the falls, including the occasional hippo or crocodile, are frequently found swirling about here or washed up at the north-east end of the Second Gorge. This is where the bodies of Mrs Moss and Mr Orchard, mutilated by crocodiles, were found in 1910 after two canoes were capsized by a hippo at Long Island above the falls. The principal gorges are :

First Gorge: the one the river falls into at Victoria Falls
Second Gorge: spanned by the Victoria Falls Bridge, 250 m south of falls, 2.15 km long.
Third Gorge: 600 m south, 1.95 km long, containing the Victoria Falls Power Station.
Fourth Gorge: 1.15 km south, 2.25 km long
Fifth Gorge: 2.55 km south, 3.2 km long
Songwe Gorge: 5.3 km south, 3.3 km long,3.2 km long named after the small Songwe River coming from the north-east, and the deepest at 140 m or 460 ft, the level of the river in them varies by up to 20 meters or 65 ft between wet and dry seasons.

The recent geological history of Victoria Falls can be seen in the form of the gorges below the falls. The basalt plateau over which the Upper Zambezi flows has many large cracks filled with weaker sandstone. In the area of the current falls the largest cracks run roughly east to west some run nearly north-east to south-west, with smaller north-south cracks connecting them.

Over at least 100,000 years, the falls have been receding upstream through the Batoka Gorges, eroding the sandstone-filled cracks to form the gorges. The river's course in the current vicinity of the falls is north to south, so it opens up the large east-west cracks across its full width, then it cuts back through a short north-south crack to the next east-west one. The river has fallen in different eras into different chasms which now form a series of sharply zig-zagging gorges downstream from the falls.

Apart from some dry sections, the Second to Fifth and the Songwe Gorges each represents a past site of the falls at a time when they fell into one long straight chasm as they do now. Their sizes indicate that we are not living in the age of the widest-ever falls.

The falls have already started cutting back the next major gorge, at the dip in one side of the "Devil's Cataract" also known as "Leaping Waters" section of the falls. This is not actually a north-south crack, but a large east-northeast line of weakness across the river, where the next full-width falls will eventually form.

Archaeological sites around the falls have yielded Homo habilis stone artifacts from 3 million years ago, 50,000-year-old Middle Stone Age tools and Late Stone Age 10,000 and 2,000 years ago weapons, adornments and digging tools. Iron-using Khoisan hunter-gatherers displaced these Stone Age people and in turn were displaced by Bantu tribes such as the southern Tonga people known as the Batoka/Tokalea, who called the falls Shungu na mutitima. The Matabele, later arrivals, named them aManz' aThunqayo, and the Batswana and Makololo whose language is used by the Lozi people call them Mosi-o-Tunya. All these names mean essentially "the smoke that thunders".

The first European to see the falls was David Livingstone on 17 November 1855, during his 1852–56 journey from the upper Zambezi to the mouth of the river. The falls were well known to local tribes, and Voortrekker hunters may have known of them, as may the Arabs under a name equivalent to "the end of the world". Europeans were sceptical of their reports, perhaps thinking that the lack of mountains and valleys on the plateau made a large falls unlikely.

Livingstone had been told about the falls before he reached them from upriver and was paddled across to a small island that now bears the name Livingstone Island in Zambia. Livingstone had previously been impressed by the Ngonye Falls further upstream, but found the new falls much more impressive, and gave them their English name in honour of Queen Victoria. He wrote of the falls, "No one can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight."

In 1860, Livingstone returned to the area and made a detailed study of the falls with John Kirk. Other early European visitors included Portuguese explorer Serpa Pinto, Czech explorer Emil Holub, who made the first detailed plan of the falls and its surroundings in 1875 , and British artist Thomas Baines, who executed some of the earliest paintings of the falls. Until the area was opened up by the building of the railway in 1905, though, the falls were seldom visited by other Europeans.

Victoria Falls Bridge initiates tourism
European settlement of the Victoria Falls area started around 1900 in response to the desire of Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company for mineral rights and imperial rule north of the Zambezi, and the exploitation of other natural resources such as timber forests north-east of the falls, and ivory and animal skins. Before 1905, the river was crossed above the falls at the Old Drift, by dugout canoe or a barge towed across with a steel cable.Rhodes' vision of a Cape-Cairo railway drove plans for the first bridge across the Zambezi and he insisted it be built where the spray from the falls would fall on passing trains, so the site at the Second Gorge was chosen.

From 1905 the railway offered accessible travel to whites from as far as the Cape in the south and from 1909, as far as the Belgian Congo in the north. In 1904 the Victoria Falls Hotel was opened to accommodate visitors arriving on the new railway. The falls became an increasingly popular attraction during British colonial rule of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), with the town of Victoria Falls becoming the main tourist centre.

Zambia's independence and Rhodesia's UDI

In 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia. The following year, Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence. This was not recognized by Zambia, the United Kingdom nor the vast majority of states and led to United Nations-mandated sanctions. In response to the emerging crisis, in 1966 Zambia restricted or stopped border crossings; it did not re-open the border completely until 1980. Guerilla warfare arose on the southern side of the Zambezi from 1972: the Rhodesian Bush War. Visitor numbers began to drop, particularly on the Rhodesian side. The war affected Zambia through military incursions, causing the latter to impose security measures including the stationing of soldiers to restrict access to the gorges and some parts of the falls.

Zimbabwe's internationally recognised independence in 1980 brought comparative peace, and the 1980s witnessed renewed levels of tourism and the development of the region as a centre for adventure sports. Activities that gained popularity in the area include whitewater rafting in the gorges, bungee jumping from the bridge, game fishing, horse riding, kayaking, and flights over the falls.

Tourism in recent years
The naturally formed "Devil's Pool", where some tourists swim despite a risk of plunging over the edge.


By the end of the 1990s almost 300,000 people were visiting the falls annually, and this was expected to rise to over a million in the next decade. Unlike the game parks, Victoria Falls has more Zimbabwean and Zambian visitors than international tourists; the attraction is accessible by bus and train, and is therefore comparatively inexpensive to reach.

The two countries permit tourists to make day trips from each side and visas can be obtained at both border posts. Costs vary from US$45-US$80 (as of 1 December 2013). Visitors with single entry visas are required to purchase a visa each time they cross the border. Frequent changes in visa regulations mean visitors should check the rules before crossing the border.

A famous feature is the naturally formed "Armchair" now sometimes called "Devil's Pool", near the edge of the falls on Livingstone Island on the Zambian side. When the river flow is at a certain level, usually between September and December, a rock barrier forms an eddy with minimal current, allowing adventurous swimmers to splash around in relative safety a few feet from the point where the water cascades over the falls. Occasional deaths have been reported when people have slipped over the rock barrier.

The numbers of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has historically been much higher than the number visiting the Zambia side, due to the greater development of the visitor facilities there. However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between supporters and opponents of president Robert Mugabe increased.

In 2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity, with rates in top hotels reaching US$630 per night.The rapid development has prompted the United Nations to consider revoking the Falls' status as a World Heritage Site. In addition, problems of waste disposal and a lack of effective management of the falls' environment are a concern.

Natural environment
The two national parks at the falls are relatively small—Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is 66 square kilometres (16,309 acres) and Victoria Falls National Park is 23 square kilometres (5,683 acres). However, next to the latter on the southern bank is the Zambezi National Park, extending 40 kilometres (25 mi) west along the river. Animals can move between the two Zimbabwean parks and can also reach Matetsi Safari Area, Kazuma Pan National Park and Hwange National Park to the south.

On the Zambian side, fences and the outskirts of Livingstone tend to confine most animals to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. In addition fences put up by lodges in response to crime restrict animal movement.

In 2004 a separate group of police called the Tourism Police was started. They are commonly seen around the main tourist areas, and can be identified by their uniforms with yellow reflective bibs.

Vegetation
Mopane woodland savannah predominates in the area, with smaller areas of Miombo and Rhodesian Teak woodland and scrubland savannah. Riverine forest with palm trees lines the banks and islands above the falls. The most notable aspect of the area's vegetation though is the rainforest nurtured by the spray from the falls, containing plants rare for the area such as pod mahogany, ebony, ivory palm, wild date palm and a number of creepers and lianas. Vegetation has suffered in recent droughts, and so have the animals that depend on it, particularly antelope.

Wildlife
The national parks contain abundant wildlife including sizable populations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of antelope. Lion and leopard are only occasionally seen. Vervet monkeys and baboons are common. The river above the falls contains large populations of hippopotamus and crocodile. Elephants cross the river in the dry season at particular crossing points.

Klipspringers, honey badgers, lizards and clawless otters can be glimpsed in the gorges, but they are mainly known for 35 species of raptors. The Taita falcon, black eagle, peregrine falcon and augur buzzard breed there. Above the falls, herons, fish eagles and numerous kinds of waterfowl are common.

Fish
The river is home to 39 species of fish below the falls and 89 species above it. This illustrates the effectiveness of the falls as a dividing barrier between the upper and lower Zambezi.