Niagara Fall Tightrope WalkOne of the Flying Wallendas is hoping to make some history.  Coming from a long line of tightrope walkers, Nik Wallenda had to do something to set himself apart from the rest.

This should just about do the trick.

This June, he plans to walk a tightrope stretched directly over the Niagara Falls waterfall – approximately 1,800 feet across and 200 feet from the bottom – between the United States and Canada. If he succeeds, it will be the first ever Niagara Falls tightrope walk directly over the waterfall itself.

Wallenda hails from a circus family renowned the world over for their tightrope skills since the 1700′s, spiking in popularity during the Great Depression, when they were recruited by the Ringling Brothers and performed their act without a net, as it had been lost during their trip.

Over time, various members of the legendary family have fallen to their deaths while performing.

Nik Wallenda’s great-grandfather, Karl, fell during an act in Puerto Rico in 1978 at the age of 73, inspiring Nik to finish the same walk last year.

Rage Challenge Accepted 150x150“My great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, was my biggest hero in life, my biggest inspiration behind everything I do,” Nik said at the time.

Because of the immense danger involved with the Niagara Falls tightrope walk, park officials have banned anyone from attempting it for several years, but Wallenda pleaded for approval on both sides of the border and Canada eventually conceded, provided that it will be the only time the stunt will be attempted this generation.

The last Niagara Falls tightrope walk was performed by James Hardy all the way back in 1896.

Wallenda will be performing the terrifying feat on June 15, 2012.

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