Yol xxYr - The Arctic Circle

NCRTTIMN GEOGRAPHICAL MMES
RAPIDS AND VATMFALIS
Rapids and falls present an excitement to any onlooker, but to
early eqilorers they often provd a hazard of innense proportions.
Tkre nore spectacular or treadterous features nearly always were
singled out for recognition in rmps and reports. Scrne of these
water features bear names of the stalw-art expedition nElnbers, sdre
GrrrErrprate well-knov^n people, and otlters recall particular escalEs
or rnisadr,rentures of the creh/s.
The follouring are but a few of the rapids and falls found il Keeruatin
and ltackenzie. Concealed in tlre mists of spray, and often urikncn'n:
to todayrs travellers, are the stories of bygone explorers ganbling
tlreir lives against the turbulent waters.
Bloody Fal-I: Copperrnine River 6P 37' - ILso 24'
Named Lpz Sanuel Hearne in JuIy, 1771 during his journey to tte
"Irlorthern Ocean" for the Hudson's Bay Colrrynny. At the base of ttre
falls, the rndians travelling with Hearne had saragely murdered a
grop of Inuit, and then ph-urdered ttre tents and possessions.
(Hearre, L795) .
Escape Rapids: Coppermine River 6F 37' - I15o 29'
Naned by John Frankli:rrs opedition on July 15, IB2I. At "EscatrE
Rapid" the party cane close to losing its t\,\D can@s. Prevented
frcrn landing by the steep cliffs, and finding ttrenselrres inadrzertently
in the rapids, the nen were subjected. to waves breaking over the
canoes. TLre svsiftness of their descent was tlteir sahration. (Franklin,
1824) .
Wilberforce Fa1ls: Hood Riraer 670 C71 - 10go 47'
Frariklin (1821) describes Lpper and lcnuer falls cascading thnor:gh a
nan:r.cr^r chagn over a ledge of feldspattr-ic sandstone, and naned tlre
falls as a tribute of "respect for tlnt distinguished philantrhroptr-ist
and christian", William Wilberforce, L759-1833. (FYarklin, 1824\.
I4a11ey Rapids: Back River 67|U- 07' - rO70 20'
These rapids on the river tlnt George Back called the Great Fish ot
Ttrlerrireechodezeth were naned by him for William Malley, Iancashi:e
artillerynran on his party, 1833-35. 'At this portage |hq/ was
terporarily lost aIIDng the svnnps ard rocks, having deviated fisn
ttre or.rse of ttre river". (Back, 18%).
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