Two scientists have conducted a fresh assessment of a remote waterfall, indicating that the rarely 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 propose a height of 16 meters, slightly surpassing the 14-meter Kwasitchewan Falls near Thompson, a waterfall widely acknowledged as Manitoba’s tallest. Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the measurement accuracy, stating a margin of error within one meter.
Decades ago, Kapakaytay Falls was measured by the federal government, with its height recorded as 58 feet (approximately 17 meters) on topographical maps. However, this information was not widely disseminated, according to Martin, a PhD student in ecology at the University of Oxford in England. Given the lack of established height recognition, the researchers were motivated to determine if Kapakaytay Falls held the title of Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
Located on the Odei River, around 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg, the falls posed a significant challenge to reach. Martin described the waterfall as highly inaccessible, hidden within wildfire-affected forests along a river with treacherous terrain, necessitating the negotiation of rapids and logjams.
Embarking on their paddling expedition in July, Olson and Martin, with the assistance of local guides, navigated the 105-kilometer round trip to reach Kapakaytay Falls. Upon witnessing the falls for the first time after days of paddling, they were struck by its sheer size and the mesmerizing water flow over the rocks.
Inspired by a previous journey in 2019, Olson and Martin utilized over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured by a drone for digital photogrammetry to measure the waterfall. They also conducted laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural elements to enhance their model accuracy. The team estimated Kapakaytay Falls to be approximately 16 meters, making it a significant contender for Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
While the provincial data asserts Kwasitchewan Falls as the highest, the exact measurement for Kapakaytay Falls in the official records remains unclear. Olson and Martin are now focused on publishing their research, aiming to contribute to further exploration and documentation of the falls in the future.