Jean Dry Lake: Where’s the Water? EarthCache
Hidden : 3/11/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


The easiest access to this Earthcache is off of the old Los Angeles Highway by way of the paved road at N 35 49.671, W 115 17.024. Follow your GPS receiver from here. For this Earthcache, you will be determining the level at which water exists below the surface of Jean Dry Lake, so bring a ruler or tape measure to take measurements.

Jean Dry Lake is a playa lakebed located just east of Jean. Playa lakebeds are common in the Mojave Desert. They form in the flat basin areas between mountain ranges where there is no outflow of water. These areas were previously valleys which may be filled with hundreds of feet of sediments from the surrounding mountains. Only the fine sediments such as sand, silt, or clay, reach the center of the playa lakebed. Other materials, such as gravels, cobbles, and boulders, tend to separate out before reaching the lakebed.

Because there is no outflow in the playa lakebed, surface water leaves in one of two ways: either through evaporation or by sinking in and becoming groundwater. While it may look like there is no water at the dry lake, water may be closer than you think! Depending on the time of year and recent precipitation, water may be just a few feet down (or on the surface itself, if you visit right after a precipitation event).

At the site of the coordinates, a shallow basin has been dug into the surface of the lakebed and water can typically be found here.

To receive credit for this Earthcache:

1.) Send me an email telling me what the level of the water is below the surface of the playa. Also let me know how deep the water is at its deepest point.

Please consider posting photos of yourself, or the local geology, when you log this EarthCache. Photos can be an additional rewarding part of your journey, but posting them is not a requirement for logging this EarthCache, and is strictly optional.

The above information was compiled from the following sources:

Digital Desert – Playas. Online at (visit link)

Tingley, J.V. et al. Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16.

Wikipedia. Playa: (visit link)

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