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Injured farmer uses drone "cowscan" technology to check newborn calves in pasture
1:38
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Bossy cow pushes herd mate off to enjoy a good face scratch
1:27
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Drifting on the current with gigantic Pacific green sea turtles
1:19
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Canada's most beautiful waterfalls captured by drone
2:51
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Tourist uses ingenuity to boil eggs in natural hot spring in Canada
1:18
This treacherous pass was "The Gates of Hell" according to early explores
3:17
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Orca Inspects Tourists In A Tiny Boat In Galapagos Islands
1:11
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High speed drone provides unique look at life on a country farm
1:58
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Protective rhinoceros mother keeps a close eye on her precious calf
0:29
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Kenyan woman shows Canadian friend how she gets water in her village
2:25
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Mother cow gives birth while her friends line up for support
1:53
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Scuba diver recovers drone after mysterious plunge into the ocean in Fiji
1:29
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Devoted osprey brings his mate fish as she prepares to lay her eggs
1:16
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Curious gopher sniffs the camera left at her den entrance
0:40
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Ground squirrel calls for her babies in the most adorable way
1:14
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Cheeky vulture wisely gives gorging lionesses a wide berth
0:55
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Drone captures breath taking beauty from above at the harborfront
1:35
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Baby elephant drinks water at the river in the most adorable way
0:59
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Young Bull Elephant Gives Himself A Dust Bath In Kenya
0:49
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Boat races to beat storm to the safety of the harbour at sunset
2:01
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Veteran cop interviews Nigerian scammer on video to explain his scam to the world
8:39
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Cuddly Baby Goat Adorably Captures Woman's Heart
1:12
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Splendid sunrise & sunset captured by drone shows beautiful color
1:16
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Drone footage of Kingston reveals surprising beauty all around the harbor front
2:12
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Goat schmurgle is the most fun way ever to spend time with the "kids"
2:07
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Flight around Canada's highest water fountain reveals dramatic rainbows
1:46
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Baby sea lions adorably call for mom to come back with their milk
1:29
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Sea lion hunting in swimming area catches a fish in Galapagos Islands
0:39
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Nigerian scammer talks honestly with ex cop on video about his scam
4:41
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Scuba diver finds herself surrounded by giant manta rays in the Maldives
1:20
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Scuba diver finds herself in the path of incoming giant manta rays
0:41
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Mantis shrimp is a deceptively capable predator
0:46
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The world is stunning as seen from a bird's eye perspective
1:50
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Squid demonstrates ink squirting capability in Indonesia
0:30
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Baby shark rolls over in the sand for a back scratch
0:36
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Vividly colored giant blue clam beautifies the reef in Indonesia
0:42
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Vividly colored sea anemone is a beautiful sight in Indonesia
0:32
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Stargazer fish in Indonesia is a small "monster" of the deep
0:53
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Zoom ability of hobby drones is shocking and disturbing
0:42
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Sunset is stunning when see from above the earth
1:09
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Solar powered nudibranchs feed in highly unusual way
1:08
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Scuba diver finds herself in a pack of intimidating bull sharks
1:39
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Wind turbines at sunset reveal the majestic beauty of wind farms
1:25
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Beautiful mist enshrouds farmland at sunrise, captured from the air
1:25
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Beautiful hawksbill sea turtles circle each other on the coral reef
0:49
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Wild chickens find the most ironic place to look for food
1:04
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Gray tree frog calls warning to rival frog outside of his cave
1:36
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Cheeky seagull steals a fish scrap from much larger pelicans
0:33
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Breath taking colours of autumn leaves as seen on the wings of a bird
3:10
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Gigantic whale shark cruises through scuba divers like a submarine
1:00
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Sleepy Pacific green sea turtle enjoys a good belly scratch in the coral
1:12
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World's laziest sea lion finds clever way to reach the water's edge
1:49
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Gigantic whale shark comes for back scratch on small scuba boat
2:11
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Chasing your dream can lead you where you never imagined
5:01
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Fan-bellied leatherjacket is a bizarre looking animal
0:46
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Giraffe brothers playfighting on the African plain shows the beauty of animals in the wild
2:03
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Giant manta rays give scuba divers beautiful close up experience
1:09
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Majestic horses run free in the meadow on a sunny day
2:02
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Breathtaking beauty of British Columbia captured from above
3:35
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Curious manta rays circle around delighted scuba divers
1:09
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Gigantic fishing spider is one of nature's best scuba divers
1:36
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Monstrous whale shark dwarfs scuba divers in the Galapagos Islands
1:13
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This stunning lighthouse is the easternmost point of North America
1:56
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Ostrich gives epic performance but fails to get the girl
1:01
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Daisy the bunny munches noisily on a treat and it's too cute!
0:37
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Lion brothers meet affectionately on the African Plain
0:33
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Flamingo feeds in an unusual manner to extract shrimp from mud
0:36
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Mighty leopard stops to have a big drink at watering hole
0:35
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Young hawksbill sea turtle follows scuba diver over the coral reef
1:04
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African farmer and her son upload videos to pay for his education
5:39
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Sanctuary bull with intimidating horns asks guest for a head scratch
2:43
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This steel safe killed one of America's most famous men
1:46
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The beauty of Canada from one coast to the other
2:13
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Heart warming close look at a calf's entry into the world
1:27
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Child giggles with delight as she sails over a waterfall in Ecuador
1:18
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Anemone fish can live where few other fish can
0:35
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Surprising footage captured by child on African bus ride
1:37
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Endangered hawksbill turtle casually eats as scuba divers look on
1:05
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Olive baboons show their ferocious teeth as they playfight
1:14
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Venomous emperor sea urchin is one of the most ornate sea creatures
1:44
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Smooth green snake is one of the most beautiful in North America
0:57
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Tiny finches feast on leftover airport pizza in the Galapagos Islands
1:12
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One of the the ocean's most bizarre animals; the beaded sea cucumber
2:29
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Sanctuary goats go crazy for green bananas from guests
1:22
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Pelican shows off his impressive fishing skills and huge beak
1:38
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Gigantic humpback whale rises beside mesmerized swimmer in Tonga
0:53
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Badlands salt flats look like an alien landscape when seen from the air
2:02
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Pacific green turtle calmly eats as scuba diver watches enthralled
1:21
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Orioles are one of the most vividly colored birds in North America
1:30
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Flash flood washes out road in Kenya, Africa
2:19
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Chickens happily enjoy a feast on farm in Kenya, Africa
1:28
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Dramatic sunset footage of ominous lightning storm approaching harbor
2:42
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Old world pomegranate juice vendor has been serving fresh juice here for 50 years
1:42
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Close up look at the most high powered eyes on the planet
0:35
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Mighty leopard caches deer in a tree to keep it safe for later
1:39
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The beautiful and fascinating strawberry nudibranch
1:21
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Venomous lion fish continuously tries to eat photographers subjects
1:40
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Huge moray eel comes at scuba diver for a close inspection
0:25
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Happy Great Dane Puppy Wags Her Tail While She Sleeps
1:04
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Fire dancer in Roatan gives mesmerizing beach performance
3:18
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Massive hippos bask in the afternoon sun beside the river
0:45
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Grouper in Roatan gets a teeth cleaning by his little friend
1:30
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The beauty and mystery of Roatan revealed
3:33
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Captivating Video Captures Bluebird's Delicate Landing at Bird Box Nest
0:38
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Beautiful flamingos squabble in the sunshine
1:19
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Drone captures total eclipse over the shore from bird's eye view (Sped up 7.5x)
2:01
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Midnight snorkelers capture incredible salamander migration
2:31
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Witness the mystical underwater world in the Maldives
2:02
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Ingenious floating pina colada bar in Roatan
2:56
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Decorator crabs are more complex than we realized
0:54

This treacherous pass was "The Gates of Hell" according to early explores

1 year ago
9.25K

Hell's Gate lies at the bottom of a steep canyon carved out of the mountain by the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is the narrowest portion of the mighty Fraser River, originally known by other names. The Tsilhqot'in name for the river is ʔElhdaqox, meaning Sturgeon. The river is home to gigantic sturgeon that feed on the bottom in slower running sections, but the river is also Canada's greatest source of salmon and the Indigenous peoples who inhabited this nation first relied on the salmon for their survival.

This strikingly beautiful section of the Fraser River has a fascinating history. At these narrows, the current rages through a steep canyon, making it impossible for boats to navigate the river. Indigenous people gathered here to harvest salmon as the fish rested in the eddies before continuing upriver. The rapids and steep banks made it a treacherous and dangerous area to fish, yet the opportunities to catch the salmon were plentiful. Rope and wooden structures helped the local fishermen make their way along the sheer rock faces to fish.

In the middle and late 1800s, European settlers began to gather and fish here. The gold rush and fur trade brought even more settlers and people passing through. This area became a busy trade corridor. A railway was built and the area saw more traffic and people than ever before. In 1911, a second rail line was built along the south and east bank of the Fraser River.

During construction of the second rail line, a catastrophic rockslide poured huge boulders into the river. This decreased the depth by 5m (15 feet), increasing water velocity by more than a third. Very few salmon made it through and they perished in the attempt, before spawning, or they found other rivers to spawn in.

The salmon populations plummeted. Commercial fishing was already putting heavy pressure on the salmon and the Indigenous people faced famine. Fishing restrictions were put in place, but commercial fishing continued in the areas south of Hell's Gate. Intense debates raged over the causes and the solutions, with harsh criticism from many angles.

From 1947 to 1951, two corridors were built along the banks of the river. These structures created tunnels with reduced current, allowing the fish to pass through and avoid the worst of the turbulence. Other conservation efforts were also put in place. As a result, salmon populations rebounded.

In the 1970s, an airtram was built to allow people to traverse the river and view the fishways from both banks. The site hosts a restaurant, giftshop, along with educational films and plaques to explain the history of this canyon.

The Fraser River is named after the explorer, Simon Fraser. He wrote in his journals that this passage was: "a place where no human should venture, for surely these are the gates of Hell." It was known thereafter as Hell's Gate. Without the benefit of roads or rail lines, explorers were forced to find a way through these treacherous and dangerous waters.

What was once seen as a foreboding and treacherous place is now appreciated for its magnificent beauty and interesting history. It is also an undeniable demonstration of the potential consequences of human intervention in our attempt to battle or conquer nature.

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