Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a secluded waterfall, indicating that the rarely explored falls located in the rugged boreal shield of northern Manitoba could be the tallest in the province. Alexander Martin and Lukas Olson utilized digital photogrammetry to measure Kapakaytay Falls on the Odei River. Their initial findings suggest a height of 16 meters, slightly surpassing the 14-meter Kwasitchewan Falls near Thompson, which is widely regarded as Manitoba’s tallest waterfall. Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the measurement accuracy, stating a margin of error within one meter.
While Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government decades ago and recorded at 58 feet (about 17 meters) on topographical maps, this information was not widely circulated, according to Martin, a Winnipegger and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford. Due to the lack of widespread confirmation on its height, they embarked on the study to determine if it indeed holds the title of Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
Situated approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Kapakaytay Falls poses a significant challenge to access, as noted by Martin. The researchers embarked on a paddling expedition in July, navigating through demanding terrain, including rapids and logjams, in the wildfire-affected forests where the waterfall is concealed.
Olson and Martin, with the assistance of local guides, completed a 105-kilometer round trip to reach the falls. Upon encountering the waterfall after days of paddling, they were struck by its immense size and the powerful flow of water over the rocks. The researchers’ endeavor was inspired by Winnipegger Garrett Fache’s visit to the waterfall in June 2019, where he suspected it to be Manitoba’s tallest based on observations and topographic maps.
Utilizing over 1,000 two-dimensional drone images and laser measurements of surrounding natural elements, Olson and Martin employed digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall. Their preliminary analysis suggests Kapakaytay Falls stands at approximately 16 meters, with Pisew Falls measuring 13 meters and Kwasitchewan Falls at 14 meters. The researchers aim to publish their findings and envision their documentation contributing to future research efforts at the site.
In response to their research, the province affirmed Kwasitchewan Falls as the highest based on its data, but there was no immediate clarity on whether Kapakaytay Falls’ height had been previously recorded. Olson and Martin view their work as a means to document and explore remote natural wonders, emphasizing the continued opportunities for discovery and mapping in uncharted territories.