The island that separates the Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls is called Goat Island.

It got its name after John Stedman in 1778 rowed his herd of Goats to the island to protect them from wolves. But the bitter winter killed all the goats except for one, Old Billy Goat. British soldiers hearing the story nicknamed the island Goat Island. The name stuck. Prior to 1778 the island was called Iris Island because of the large volume of Iris plants that grew here. I have to admit, I like that name better.

While we’re in that area the nearby Luna Island which separates the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls gets its name from the fact that at one time this was the best place to see a Lunar Bow (a night Rainbow).

Now, don’t you feel enlightened?