Pisew Falls Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Pisew Falls Provincial Park in Manitoba
is located at the approximate mid-point between the small community of Wabowden
and the much larger industrial and service centre of Thompson
.
Located approximately 700 km North of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 500 m from Highway 6, Pisew Falls is near Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall which has a naturally occurring year round flow.
The name, "Pisew", is translated from the local Cree
language meaning "Lynx
". It was so named because the sound of the hissing water bears a resemblance to the sound of this wild northern feline
.
Its creation is due to the intensive geological activity in the area hundreds of thousands of years ago, when violent tectonic effects caused the creation of first a fault
, and then an upheaval of the southern side of the fault-line.
This has left a rift in the landscape with a waterfall riotously cascading over and through it.
. A wide variety of mosses, lichens, and fungi can be found in the immediate area around the base of the falls. There are also a variety of ferns whose origins date back to before the last Ice Age
. The dominant winter feature downstream and to the right of the falls is the ice that builds up on top of a small island there. This island only rises a few feet above the downstream water level in summer, but by late February, the ice accumulates to approximately 3-5 metres thick from the months of freezing spray.
At the periphery of this barrier between liquid water and frozen surroundings lies a thin ridge of plant growth that continues to survive throughout the harshest of the -45 degree Celsius days in this frigid northern wilderness. Normally the process of photosynthesis
ceases in the surrounding area.
It is common to see one or more of the local otters
using the large ice buildup as a "slide", providing the otters and lucky spectators with hours of amusement.
Officers of Manitoba Conservation ask that visitors keep the area clean and stay well away from the areas below the falls, which are clearly marked as "Environmentally Sensitive". As long as everyone co-operates in this respect, this remarkable piece of geography will be here for many generations to come.
variety. It is a lovely picnic area, and a great place for a short stop if travelling further north or south.
There are two hiking trails with excellent "rugged" campsites leading from the Picnic and Falls areas. The trails are very rugged, and only recommended for experienced backpackers to attempt. The trail to Kwasitchewan Falls is 22 km (about 13 miles) return. Should you be hearty enough to undertake this trek, you will encounter aspects of the northern Manitoba wilderness seen by few. For conservation reasons, it is important to leave nothing whatsoever behind when hiking.
Caution must be exercised to avoid confrontations with bears. As a general rule, it is their home year-round, and you are a guest in it.
via the Grass River and Phillips Lake. (map of the Kwasitchewan Falls Trail)
Motorized boats over 14 ft (4 m) are generally not recommended because of the lack of boat launching facilities.
who reside in this area, as well as wolves, and cougars which have been spotted as far north as Thompson, Manitoba
.
Due to the relatively high humidity present year-round, it is possible to slip on fresh wet greenery in the summer, and slick ice in the winter. It may be dangerous to stray too far off the clearly marked path. There has been one fatality at the falls in recent years, and a Memorial Trail-Marker is there to mark it. The ledges are steep, the fall is long, and the current below is swift. Caution is advised at all times.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
is located at the approximate mid-point between the small community of Wabowden
Wabowden, Manitoba
Wabowden is a community in northern Manitoba. It is situated on Provincial Trunk Highway #6, which is the main route between Thompson and the provincial capital, Winnipeg....
and the much larger industrial and service centre of Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
.
Located approximately 700 km North of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 500 m from Highway 6, Pisew Falls is near Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall which has a naturally occurring year round flow.
The name, "Pisew", is translated from the local Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
language meaning "Lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
". It was so named because the sound of the hissing water bears a resemblance to the sound of this wild northern feline
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
.
Its creation is due to the intensive geological activity in the area hundreds of thousands of years ago, when violent tectonic effects caused the creation of first a fault
Geologic fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across which there has been significant displacement along the fractures as a result of earth movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of tectonic forces...
, and then an upheaval of the southern side of the fault-line.
This has left a rift in the landscape with a waterfall riotously cascading over and through it.
Micro-climate
Because of the continuous flow of water over the falls, the localized area has developed its own microclimateMicroclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
. A wide variety of mosses, lichens, and fungi can be found in the immediate area around the base of the falls. There are also a variety of ferns whose origins date back to before the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. The dominant winter feature downstream and to the right of the falls is the ice that builds up on top of a small island there. This island only rises a few feet above the downstream water level in summer, but by late February, the ice accumulates to approximately 3-5 metres thick from the months of freezing spray.
At the periphery of this barrier between liquid water and frozen surroundings lies a thin ridge of plant growth that continues to survive throughout the harshest of the -45 degree Celsius days in this frigid northern wilderness. Normally the process of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
ceases in the surrounding area.
It is common to see one or more of the local otters
Northern River Otter
The North American river otter , also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent, found in and along its waterways and coasts. An adult river otter can weigh between 5 and 14 kg...
using the large ice buildup as a "slide", providing the otters and lucky spectators with hours of amusement.
Officers of Manitoba Conservation ask that visitors keep the area clean and stay well away from the areas below the falls, which are clearly marked as "Environmentally Sensitive". As long as everyone co-operates in this respect, this remarkable piece of geography will be here for many generations to come.
Camping and hiking
Camping is not permitted at the falls themselves. There are no shower facilities, no electrical services, and the only toilet facilities are of the outhouseOuthouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
variety. It is a lovely picnic area, and a great place for a short stop if travelling further north or south.
There are two hiking trails with excellent "rugged" campsites leading from the Picnic and Falls areas. The trails are very rugged, and only recommended for experienced backpackers to attempt. The trail to Kwasitchewan Falls is 22 km (about 13 miles) return. Should you be hearty enough to undertake this trek, you will encounter aspects of the northern Manitoba wilderness seen by few. For conservation reasons, it is important to leave nothing whatsoever behind when hiking.
Caution must be exercised to avoid confrontations with bears. As a general rule, it is their home year-round, and you are a guest in it.
Canoe and kayak
The campsites are accessible by water and a short portagePortage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
via the Grass River and Phillips Lake. (map of the Kwasitchewan Falls Trail)
Motorized boats over 14 ft (4 m) are generally not recommended because of the lack of boat launching facilities.
Caution
The warning about wildlife "bears" repeating. As beautiful and picturesque as this location may seem, there are dangers. There are a number of Black BearsAmerican black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
who reside in this area, as well as wolves, and cougars which have been spotted as far north as Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
.
Due to the relatively high humidity present year-round, it is possible to slip on fresh wet greenery in the summer, and slick ice in the winter. It may be dangerous to stray too far off the clearly marked path. There has been one fatality at the falls in recent years, and a Memorial Trail-Marker is there to mark it. The ledges are steep, the fall is long, and the current below is swift. Caution is advised at all times.
External links
- Pisew Falls at the Manitoba Department of Conservation.