Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a remote waterfall, indicating that the seldom-explored falls in the rugged boreal shield region of northern Manitoba may 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 near Thompson, which is commonly acknowledged as Manitoba’s tallest waterfall.
Olson, a doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, expressed confidence in the measurement accuracy, within a margin of one meter. Although Kapakaytay Falls was previously measured by the federal government decades ago and recorded at a height of 58 feet, or approximately 17 meters on topographical maps, this information was not widely disseminated, noted Martin, a Winnipeg resident and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford.
The researchers embarked on a challenging paddling expedition in July to reach the falls situated along the Odei River, about 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg. The remote location demanded meticulous planning, whitewater expertise, and wilderness experience due to the rugged terrain, including navigating rapids and logjams.
After a strenuous 105-kilometer round trip, with assistance from local guides in Thompson, Olson and Martin were captivated by the grandeur of Kapakaytay Falls as they caught their first glimpse of the waterfall while paddling. The researchers used over 1,000 two-dimensional drone images for digital photogrammetry to reconstruct and measure the waterfall, also employing laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural elements to refine their model.
Preliminary results indicate a height of about 16 meters for Kapakaytay Falls, which Olson finds fulfilling, emphasizing the significance of documenting this remote site for future research. The province maintains that Kwasitchewan Falls remains the tallest based on their data, but the height of Kapakaytay Falls has not been officially documented in provincial records.
Olson and Martin are now focused on publication of their research and aspire that their comprehensive documentation of the falls will aid in further exploration and understanding of this remote natural wonder in the years ahead.