Sunwapta Falls facts for kids
Location | Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada |
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Type | Class 6 |
Total height | 18.5 m |
Total width | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
Watercourse | Sunwapta River |
Sunwapta Falls is a pair of waterfalls of the Sunwapta River located in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.
The falls are accessible via a 600 metres (2,000 feet) access road off the Icefields Parkway, which connects Jasper and Banff National Parks. The falls have a drop of about 18.5 metres (61 feet). Sunwapta is a Stoney language word that means "turbulent water". The falls is most spectacular in the late spring when the spring melt is at its peak.
There are two falls, a lower and an upper one. The one most people see is the upper falls, as access is easier. The lower falls are a short distance away. The water originates from the Athabasca Glacier, and volumes are higher in early summer because of glacial melting. It is a Class 6 waterfall, with a drop of 60 ft (18 m) and a width of 30 ft (9.1 m).