Pisew Falls Provincial Park is a provincial heritage park in the southwestern portion of Mystery Lake, Manitoba, Canada. Located near Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall, Pisew Falls stands at the approximate midpoint between the small community of Wabowden and the much larger industrial and service centre of Thompson. It is also located approximately north of Winnipeg, and from Highway 6. The name Pisew is translated from words for "lynx" in the local Cree language, named for the sound of the hissing water which bears a resemblance to the sounds made by the wild lynx. Pisew Falls' creation was 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. Micro-climate Because of the continuous flow of water over the falls, the localized area has developed its own microclimate. 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. Activities Camping and hiking Camping is not permitted at the