Adapting to Erosion EarthCache
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The Caribbean region is green and fertile, cooled by trade winds. It is located in the tropics and extends in an arc of over 4000 km. Three marine geographical features are evident – the outer ring of mainly coral islands with white beaches, the second is an inner ring of more volcanic islands with black sands, as well as a third inner ring. There are mountainous countries such as Haiti, and the Dominican Republic and the coastal areas of the Caribbean countries are characterized by differing features such as coral reefs, large and small sand barriers, mangroves, lagoons, river estuaries and high cliffs. Coral reefs continue to be formed in many areas of this region.
The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest salt water seas with an area of about 1,000,000 square miles. It is home to about 29% of the world’s coral reefs which cover about 20,000 square miles. When the water temperature exceeds 85 degrees F for a long period of time, it can endanger the coral reefs, which support some of the most diverse habitats in the world. Microscopic plants called zooanthellae which provide food for the coral and give them color, die off. The coral sand beach made up of ground-up limestone is a beautiful feature along the coastline of the Dominican Republic – providing a wonderful “geographical BASE” for vegetation to grow. Many species grow in the coastal regions often very close to the water. The composition of sand varies - from particles of pieces of coral, limestone skeletal material which consists of molluks, , calcareous algae, and other crustaceans. The “sand” which is composed of limestone varies in size: silt, fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse. Sometimes, during a high tide, the sand is affected - tide and erosion.
There are many varieties of flora and fauna which make their home along these beaches, but one particular species is common-place, yet outstanding resting in this "briney soil". The coordinates lead you to an area which is an obvious earthcache site. Please email me the following answers
1. Identify a specific flora, giving its common and botanical name
2. What kind of seed is produced, and does it disperse its seeds? (wind, water, or by animal?)
3. Post a photo of yourself holding your GPS with the coral reefs in the background to prove you were there.
To log your cache, you must email your answers to the cache owner, and posting a photo with your log. You need not wait to log your visit.
Please note: it appears erosion won the battle on the original cache site. However, thanks to a fellow cacher, we have altered coordinates slightly. Thanks to those who are helpful and to all who have enjoyed this area.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)