Two researchers have conducted a new assessment of a remote waterfall in northern Manitoba, indicating that it 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, which is widely recognized as Manitoba’s tallest waterfall. Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the accuracy of their measurement.
Although the federal government previously measured Kapakaytay Falls and listed the height as 58 feet or approximately 17 meters on topographical maps, this information was not extensively shared. Consequently, Martin, a PhD student in ecology at the University of Oxford, along with Olson, sought to ascertain if Kapakaytay Falls indeed holds the title of Manitoba’s tallest waterfall. Situated on the Odei River about 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson, Manitoba, and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg, the falls pose significant accessibility challenges, according to Martin.
The researchers embarked on a challenging paddling expedition to reach the remote site in July. Navigating through wildfire-affected forests and challenging river terrain, they encountered rapids and logjams along the way. With the assistance of local guides from the Thompson area, Olson and Martin completed a 105-kilometer round trip to reach Kapakaytay Falls. The sight of the waterfall left them in awe, marveling at its immense size and the powerful rush of water cascading over rocks.
Inspired by a previous expedition led by Winnipegger Garrett Fache in June 2019, Olson and Martin leveraged digital photogrammetry techniques using drone-captured images to reconstruct and measure the waterfall. Their analysis, which also included laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural elements, indicated a possible height of 16 meters for Kapakaytay Falls. This measurement potentially surpasses other notable waterfalls in the region, such as Pisew Falls at 13 meters and Kwasitchewan Falls at 14 meters.
The researchers are currently working on publishing their research findings and hope that their documentation of Kapakaytay Falls will contribute to future studies of the site. Despite the challenges posed by the rugged terrain, Olson and Martin expressed satisfaction in documenting this remote and rarely seen natural wonder. They believe that there are still unexplored opportunities for discovery and documentation in our seemingly mapped-out world.