Kakabeka Falls EarthCache EarthCache
Kakabeka Falls EarthCache
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Kakabeka Falls is a waterfall, located within Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, Ontario 30km (19 miles) west of Thunder Bay.
Please note that this cache is located within the boundaries of Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park and as such you will be required to pay any applicable entry fees and it is your responsibility to acquaint yourself with the polices and rules of the park.
The falls has a drop of 40 meters (131 feet), cascading into a gorge carved out of the Precambrian Shield. The formation of the spectacular gorge below Kakabeka Falls began at the end of the last ice age when glacial meltwaters surged down the river’s spillway. The falls was then much closer to Lake Superior. Over the past 10,000 years, flowing water has been eroding the soft shale at the base of the falls, causing the hard protective layer (called the cap rock) to protrude and break off under its own weight. Through this process the falls have been slowly moving upstream, always maintaining a near-vertical drop.
All of this is visible from barrier-free boardwalks with lookout platforms.
The Legend of Greenmantle
A peace loving chieftain, White Bear, of the Ojibway encampment, learned the Sioux were about to destroy his tribe. Too old to go to battle himself, the old chief’s distress led to his daughter, Princess Greenmantle, to devise a plan.
The Princess paddles her canoe up the river, to a point well above the waterfall. She walked boldly into the camp of her enemies and at once they captured her and planned to put her to death. Pretending to be lost and frightened, she bargained with them to spare her life in return for leading them to her father’s camp.
The Sioux agreed and the following morning the young princess was placed in the lead canoe and the great band of Sioux, with their canoes tied together, set out for the Ojibway camp. Greenmantle did not tell them of the falls, and as they swiftly turned the bend in the river, they plunged into the great gorge. Along with the Sioux warriors, the Princess lost her life, but her tribe was spared the torture of the most feared of all tribes. The great Manitou looked kindly upon the brave deed of the Princess.
Today, if one walks along the river bank to the point of the falls, you may be able to see her spirit I lingering in the mist as a rainbow, while the voices of the angry Sioux cry continuously from the roaring waters below.
To log a find on this earthcache you must email me with the answer to the following question. By looking down river, how much closer to Lake Superior do you think the falls was 10,000 years ago. Also don’t forget to take a picture, from a viewing pod, of your favourite cacher or GPS with the falls or gorge in the background and post it with your log.
Permission for this cache has been granted by the Superintendent of Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park under permit number KF-001.
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