It’s impossible to stand before the roaring, churning Niagara Falls and not feel at least a tiny bit awed — but does Niagara deserve to be called a wonder of the world? 

Those who live and work there certainly think so, and an ongoing social media campaign to claim the title of 8th wonder of the world for the Canadian landmark shows they’re not alone. 

Since it launched at the end of June, the #Claimthe8th campaign has sparked an outpouring of love for the Falls.

Jody Larose, executive director of the Tourism Partnership of Niagara, the organization behind #Claimthe8th, says Niagara Falls has often been referred to as a world wonder, although there’s no universal authority responsible for handing out that designation. 

“The whole notion of the wonders of the world and the various lists that are out there has come up through pop culture and perception,” she explains. “Nobody has officially claimed us to be a wonder of the world, so we thought we’d do it ourselves.” 

The campaign encourages people to look beyond the Falls and consider other things that make the Niagara region historically and culturally significant, such as its flourishing wine industry, the Welland Canal — widely considered to be one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century — and the decisive, nation-forging battles that took place in the area during the last months of the War of 1812. 

“There’s so much to see and do here and it goes beyond the Falls, so #Claimthe8th is really about figuring out how we tell that story,” says Larose. 

Do you think Niagara deserves to be called a wonder of the world? Check out the photos below, captured by members of our Photo Club, and let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!