Sunwapta Falls is a pair of waterfalls of the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Sunwapta Falls
Sunwapta Falls is located in Alberta
Sunwapta Falls
Location in Alberta
Map
LocationJasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Coordinates52°31′56″N 117°38′43″W / 52.5322°N 117.6453°W / 52.5322; -117.6453
TypeClass 6
Total height18.5 m
Total width9.1 m (30 ft)
WatercourseSunwapta River
Sunwapta Falls

The falls are accessible via a 600-metre (2,000 ft) 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 18 m (60 ft) and a width of 9.1 m (30 ft).[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sunwapta Falls". Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
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