Two researchers have recently conducted a new measurement of a remote waterfall, indicating that the little-explored falls in the rugged 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 suggest a height of 16 meters, slightly surpassing the 14-meter height of Kwasitchewan Falls, located 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 their confidence in the measurement accuracy, with an estimated margin of error of one meter. Although Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government decades ago and listed at 58 feet on topographical maps, the information was not widely disseminated, according to Martin, a Winnipeg resident and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford.
The falls are situated on the Odei River, about 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson, Manitoba, and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg. Accessing the remote waterfall was a challenging endeavor that demanded meticulous planning, whitewater proficiency, and backcountry experience. Navigating through wildfire-affected forests, negotiating rapids, and overcoming logjams were part of the 105-kilometer round trip journey for Olson and Martin, who received assistance from local guides in the Thompson area.
The researchers’ expedition was inspired by a previous trip led by Winnipegger Garrett Fache in June 2019. Fache, now the owner of Wild Loon Adventure Company, highlighted the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing the grandeur of Kapakaytay Falls and compared it to Kwasitchewan Falls. Olson and Martin employed over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured with a drone for digital photogrammetry, supplementing their measurements with laser data of surrounding natural features.
While the province’s data currently identifies Kwasitchewan Falls as the tallest, Olson and Martin are pursuing publication of their research findings, aiming to contribute to further studies of the falls in the future. Their remarkable documentation of the remote site underscores the significance of exploring and documenting lesser-known natural wonders.
