Nik Wallenda has entered the history books by going where no one has gone before -- over Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

Starting out from the American side, placing one very careful step after the next along the two-inch wide steel cable, Wallenda made his astonishing feat appear almost routine.

Battling winds and soaking spray from the thundering waters 60 metres below, Wallenda still calmly answered questions interviewers asked into his ear piece.

He talked about the breath taking view from his singular vantage point.

Others have crossed the water on tightropes, but over the gorge downstream and not for more than 100 years.

“I'm so blessed to be in the position I am,” he said, “to be the first person to be right here and to be the first person in the world who will ever be right here.”

To televise the spectacle, A-B-C insisted that Wallenda be tethered to the tightrope to prevent a deadly fall.

But the lifeline proved unnecessary as he confidently walked the 500 metres to the Canadian side in under half an hour.

And along with joyous family members and thousands of cheering spectators, some smiling Caandian customs officials were on hand to check his passport.

Wallenda, a seventh-generation member of the famed Flying Wallendas, said he'd dreamed of walking the falls since he was six years old.

In the end he credited a great deal of prayer, and preparation, for his success.

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ScH

(The Canadian Press)