Two researchers recently conducted a new assessment of a remote waterfall, indicating that the falls in northern Manitoba’s rugged boreal shield 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 the falls stand at 16 meters high, 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 measurement accuracy, with a margin of error of one meter. While the federal government had previously measured Kapakaytay Falls decades ago, the height of 17 meters recorded on topographical maps was not widely known, according to Martin, a Winnipegger and PhD student at the University of Oxford focusing on ecology.
The researchers embarked on a challenging paddling expedition in July to reach the falls, located approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson, Manitoba. Martin described the waterfall as “very inaccessible,” hidden deep within wildfire-damaged forests along a river with treacherous terrain, requiring navigation through rapids and logjams. The journey, spanning 105 kilometers, was made possible with the assistance of local guides from the Thompson area.
Upon sighting the waterfall after days of paddling, Martin and Olson were amazed by its size and the water volume cascading over the rocks. The expedition was inspired by a previous trip led by Winnipegger Garrett Fache in June 2019, who believed Kapakaytay Falls to be the tallest in Manitoba based on topographic maps and personal observations.
Using over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured with a drone, Olson and Martin employed digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall, incorporating laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural features into their model. Their modeling work suggested a height of around 52 feet for Kapakaytay Falls, compared to the 46-foot height of the previously considered tallest waterfall in Manitoba.
Despite the province’s assertion that Kwasitchewan Falls remains the highest based on their data, Olson and Martin are working towards publishing their research findings. They aspire to contribute to further exploration and documentation of the falls, emphasizing the value of uncovering and recording lesser-known sites despite the perception of a fully mapped world.