Cathedral Gorge EarthCache
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Located along US 93 between Caliente and Ely Nevada, this awesome
feature is found. The coordinates point to the parking area at
Millers Point, a no-fee observation area with fantastic views.
Information requested is wheelchair accessible.
If you could have visited the Cathedral Gorge region ten million
years ago, the mountains on the horizon in all directions would
have much the same appearance as they do today. They were formed
earlier by uplift and movements in the earth's crust, as well as by
outpourings of lava and volcanic material.
A little less than a million years ago, (a short time geologically
speaking), this region was much more humid than it is today. Large
freshwater lakes, or marshy areas were found in many valleys,
including this one before you. Sands and clays were washed down
from the mountains into the lake, eventually filling the valley to
a depth of nearly 1400 feet.
Since that time, the climate has become less humid. Uplift, and
faulting have allowed the waters of the lake to drain away through
Rainbow Canyon, to become part of the Colorado River drainage
system. As the lakebed became exposed, torrential rains washed
large amounts of gravel from the nearby mountains, and onto the
sediments. A thin veneer of gravel built up, and is the base of
Millers Point now.
In a process that continues today, Meadow Valley Wash, and it's
tributaries have cut deeply into the fine silts and clays of the
former lake bed, creating the spectacular "Badlands" terrain of
Cathedral Gorge. Every cloudburst or winter rain deepens the
channels a little more, wears the cliff faces back a little further
and moves even more of the old lakebed downstream into Lake Mead,
100 miles away.
To log this cache, please visit Millers Point, and submit your
answer to the following 3 questions to the cache owner via E-mail:
1. Who is credited with giving the area it's original Name of
"Cathedral Gulch"?
2. Of what type of clay are the formations made?
3. During which geologic era was Meadow Valley covered by a large
freshwater lake, from which the sediment was originally deposited?
Pictures of this awesome area are always welcome.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)