Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a secluded waterfall, indicating that the rarely visited falls in the rugged boreal shield of northern Manitoba may 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 height of Kwasitchewan Falls, southwest of Thompson, 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 measurement, indicating a margin of error of plus or minus one meter. While Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government decades ago, the height listed on topographical maps as 58 feet (approximately 17 meters) has not been widely disseminated, according to Martin, a Winnipeg resident and PhD student in ecology at the University of Oxford in England. The researchers were interested in determining if it indeed holds the title of Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
Located approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg on the Odei River, Kapakaytay Falls posed a significant challenge to reach, described by Martin as a very inaccessible waterfall. In their paddling expedition in July, Martin and Olson navigated through wildfire-scarred forests and challenging river terrains, overcoming rapids and logjams along the way.
Assisted by local guides in the Thompson area, the researchers embarked on a 105-kilometer round trip, culminating in their awe-inspiring first glimpse of the waterfall after days of paddling. Olson and Martin’s journey was inspired by Winnipegger Garrett Fache’s expedition to the falls in June 2019, where they witnessed the grandeur of the waterfall firsthand.
Employing over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured by a drone and laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural features, Olson and Martin utilized digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall. Their modeling work suggests a height closer to 52 feet, challenging the previously recorded 58 feet and potentially surpassing the heights of other notable Manitoba waterfalls like Pisew Falls and Kwasitchewan Falls.
Although the province maintains that Kwasitchewan Falls holds the title of the highest waterfall in Manitoba based on their data, the exact height of Kapakaytay Falls in provincial records remains unclear. Olson and Martin are now focused on publishing their research and hope that their documentation of the falls will contribute to future studies of the site.
In closing, Olson expressed satisfaction in their work, highlighting the joy of documenting this remote and relatively unexplored natural wonder, emphasizing the ongoing opportunities for exploration and discovery even in our modern, mapped world.