Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a remote waterfall, indicating that the rarely visited 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 Kwasitchewan Falls, considered Manitoba’s tallest. Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the measurement, stating a margin of error of one meter.
Although Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government, the data was not widely shared, noted Martin, a Winnipeg resident and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford. The researchers embarked on a challenging journey to the falls, which are situated on the Odei River, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg.
Accessing the remote waterfall required meticulous planning, whitewater expertise, and wilderness experience. The researchers navigated through rapids and logjams along the river, which is nestled in wildfire-damaged forests. With the assistance of local guides, Olson and Martin completed a 105-kilometer round-trip paddling expedition to reach the falls.
Upon encountering Kapakaytay Falls, the researchers were struck by its grandeur and the powerful flow of water over the rocks. The expedition was inspired by a previous journey led by Winnipegger Garrett Fache in 2019, who had speculated that the falls could be Manitoba’s tallest based on topographic maps and eyewitness accounts.
Using over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured by a drone, Olson and Martin employed digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall. Laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural features were also incorporated into their analysis. Their calculations suggest Kapakaytay Falls may be approximately 16 meters high, potentially surpassing both Pisew Falls and Kwasitchewan Falls in height.
The researchers aim to publish their findings and hope that their documentation will contribute to future research at the site. Despite the extensive mapping of the Earth, there remain opportunities for exploration and documentation, as emphasized by Martin.