Amateur explorer reaches largest beaver dam on Earth


If you're looking for a unique location for your next selfie spree, maybe you should take a cue from Rob Mark. An amateur explorer, Mark was the first to set foot on the world's largest beaver dam, where he snapped a selfie.
The dam, which is nearly 2,800 feet long, is in northern Alberta, Canada. Canada's CBC News reports that the dam was thought to be inaccessible until Mark, who traveled to the dam from New Jersey, arrived at the structure.
"There was a reoccurring theme that it was incredibly remote and thought to be inaccessible," Mark told CBC News. "Those two things sparked my interest, and I started doing research." He used Google Maps and topographical maps to plan a route to the dam, which was discovered in Wood Buffalo National Park in 2007, thanks to satellite photos. After arriving at Lac Clair by boat from Fort Chipewyan, Mark hiked an "incredibly difficult" 10 miles to the dam.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It felt like I just scored the winning goal in Game Seven. I felt incredibly proud that I actually found it and made it there," Mark told CBC News. "I was able to document this and map it in such a way that future scientists, biologists, and explorers can study this truly natural wonder." --Meghan DeMaria
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia