Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a distant waterfall, indicating that the rarely explored falls in the rough 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 propose a height of 16 meters, slightly surpassing the 14-meter Kwasitchewan Falls, located southwest of Thompson, which is commonly believed to be Manitoba’s highest waterfall.
Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the measurement accuracy, with a margin of error of one meter. Although Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government decades ago, the documented height of 58 feet (approximately 17 meters) on topographic maps was not widely disseminated, according to Martin, a Winnipegger and a PhD student in ecology at the University of Oxford.
The researchers embarked on their paddling expedition in July to reach the falls, located around 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg. The journey to the remote waterfall was challenging, requiring meticulous planning, whitewater expertise, and wilderness experience due to the difficult terrain along the Odei River, concealed within wildfire-affected forests. Navigating rapids and logjams was necessary to reach the falls.
With the assistance of local guides in the Thompson area, Olson and Martin completed a 105-kilometer round trip to reach Kapakaytay Falls. Upon their arrival and first glimpse of the waterfall after days of paddling, they were overwhelmed by its grandeur and the powerful flow of water over the rocks. The researchers’ trip was inspired by an earlier expedition in 2019 led by Garrett Fache, a Winnipeg resident who believed Kapakaytay Falls could potentially be Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
Using over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured by a drone, Olson and Martin employed digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall. They also conducted laser measurements of the surrounding trees and natural features to enhance their model accuracy. The researchers’ preliminary assessment suggests Kapakaytay Falls is approximately 16 meters tall, challenging the status of Kwasitchewan Falls, which is commonly regarded as the tallest at 14 meters.
The researchers are currently working towards publishing their research findings, aiming to contribute to future studies of the falls. Despite the perception that the globe is extensively mapped, Martin emphasized that there are still unexplored opportunities for documenting unique natural sites.