The steep section of the road leading down to the shoreline parking lot (posted coordinates), is built on the side of a moraine. A moraine is a deposit of boulders, cobbles, sand and silt that is left behind as a glacier melts or retreats. Since the continental glaciers that covered Acadia extended 400 miles into the ocean, this moraine is not a terminal moraine but a recessional moraine. The terminal moraine marks the maximum extent of the glacier's advance and for this glacier it is 400 miles off the coast deep under the sea. The recessional moraine serves as a geologic marker indicating a location where glaciers may have stalled during its retreat. In this location, the boulders, rocks, and sand that were cut and carried by the glacier were deposited into a mound. The valley once cut by the glacier is now blocked by the glacier’s deposited material, an end moraine.
This moraine blocks the water flow to the south, creating Long Pond. Moraines also dam the waters at the south end of Echo Lake and Jordan Pond. These moraines are more difficult to see since they have been altered by development.
Moraines contain a wide range of grain sizes, from huge boulders, usually rounded, down to pulverized rock. Take a short walk on the trail that leads up the side of the moraine and look for this variety of grain sizes. As the logging requirement, find a boulder that is larger than 4 feet in diameter and send me a description of it. A little research might be necessary, but include the type of rock and/or formation name of the rock.
As you leave, pay attention to the gradual slope of the road down from the top of the moraine and the number of large boulders in the fields next to the road. All of these are part of the moraine.
Logging requirements:
Send me an EMAIL, (not a message) via the user profile link above with the following information :
- The text "GCZ5FJ Long Pond End Moraine – Acadia NP" on the first line
- The number of people in your group and if anyone is logging separately, their login name(s)..
- Describe the large boulder located at N44 17.987 W68 20.981.
- Use your gps and record the elevation at the boulder. Compare that with the elevation at the shoreline parking lot. What is the difference in elevation?
- Name the formation the boulder came from. (You may need to see another earthcache on the island if you can't figure it out)
- Optional: Post a photo of you and your gps at Long Pond while taking an elevation reading.
Be sure to check the box to include your email address with your answers so that I can send you the OK to log. Any logs posted before I receive your email and qualify your find or logs containing spoilers will be deleted without prior notice.
- Geography High Web page http://www.geographyhigh.connectfree.co.uk/s3glacgeoghighuplandform2.html
- Gilman, Richard A., Carleton A. Chapman, Thomas V. Lowell, Harold W. Borns, Jr., The geology of Mount Desert Island A Visitor’s Guide to the Geology of Acadia National Park, Maine Geological Survey Department of Conservation, 1988
- National Park Service, Acadia National Park, Geologic Database to accompany digital geologic maps, acadglg.hlp, version 2004-02-02; 16:11 MST
- Karen A. Lemke, klemke@uwsp.edu, Geog 101, GLACIAL LANDFORMS http://www.uwsp.edu/geO/faculty/lemke/geog101/lecture_outlines/24_glacial_landforms.html Last revised November 27, 2008
This is a National Park Service-approved earthcache site. The information here has been reviewed and approved by the Acadia National Park staff. Thanks to the staff for their assistance.