Two scientists have conducted a new measurement of a secluded waterfall, indicating that the scarcely-visited falls in the rugged boreal shield of northern Manitoba might be the tallest in the province. Alexander Martin and Lukas Olson utilized digital photogrammetry to measure Kapakaytay Falls on the Odei River, estimating its height to be around 16 meters – slightly surpassing the 14-meter Kwasitchewan Falls, often regarded as Manitoba’s highest waterfall. Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in this measurement, with a margin of error of about one meter.
Although Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government, the height of 58 feet (approximately 17 meters) listed on topographical maps was not widely shared. Martin, a Winnipeg resident and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford, mentioned their interest in confirming if this waterfall holds the title of Manitoba’s tallest due to its lesser-known height status.
Located on the Odei River, about 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson, Manitoba, and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Kapakaytay Falls is considered highly inaccessible. Martin described the journey to reach the falls as challenging, requiring meticulous planning, whitewater expertise, and backcountry skills to navigate through the river’s treacherous terrain. With the guidance of local experts from the Thompson area, Olson and Martin embarked on a strenuous 105-kilometer round trip to reach the waterfall.
Upon sighting the waterfall after days of paddling, both researchers were captivated by its grandeur and the sheer volume of water cascading over the rocks. The expedition drew inspiration from a previous trip led by Winnipegger Garrett Fache in June 2019, where the team sought to explore the towering waterfall and compare it to Kwasitchewan Falls.
Using over 1,000 two-dimensional drone images and laser measurements of surrounding natural features, Olson and Martin employed digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure Kapakaytay Falls. Their preliminary findings indicated a height of approximately 16 meters, challenging the existing measurements of other prominent waterfalls in Manitoba. The researchers are now focused on publishing their research findings, aiming to contribute to future studies of this remote site.
In response to the researchers’ measurements, the province maintains that Kwasitchewan Falls remains the tallest based on their data. However, the exact height of Kapakaytay Falls in the province’s records remains unclear. Olson and Martin aspire to shed light on this hidden gem and its significance for further exploration and documentation, emphasizing the continued opportunities for discovery in seemingly well-charted territories.