The park is dominated by a single, spectacular feature -- Kakabeka Falls -- which drops 39 metres over sheer cliffs. Kakabeka is an aboriginal word meaning "steep cliffs". Below the falls is a dramatic gorge carved out of the Precambrian Shield by the meltwater from the last glaciers. The ancient, volcanic rock over which the water tumbles holds many secrets. From beneath its layers, 1.6-billion-year-old fossils have been unearthed. Since 1904, the river has been tapped to produce a steady flow of hydroelectric power.