The Littleton Esker Earthcache EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Northwoods Explorer: This cache is being deleted because it no long conforms with the new rules for earthcaches locations. To make measurements here would be unsafe therefore it is being archived.

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Hidden : 9/20/2005
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

You are looking at a cross-section of one of the largest eskers in North America.

The most recent glacial episode in Maine began about 25,000 years ago, when the Laurentide ice sheet overspread New England. During its peak development, this ice sheet was centered over eastern Canada and flowed east to southeast across Maine. It became several thousand feet thick and covered the highest mountains in the state. Climatic warming forced the Laurentide ice sheet to start receding as early as 21,000 years ago, soon after it reached its terminal position on Long Island, New York. The ice margin also withdrew from the continental shelf east of Long Island and reached the present position of the Maine coast by 15,000 to 14,000 years ago. Some of the glacial sand and gravel was deposited by meltwater streams in tunnels within the decaying ice. These deposits were left behind as ridges (eskers) when the surrounding ice disappeared. Maine's esker systems can be traced for up to 100 miles, and are among the longest in the country. C. T. Jackson (1837), who conducted the first geological survey of Maine, made an interesting remark about one such esker near Houlton: "I could not help thinking, as I looked upon this natural embankment, that it would be easy for an antiquarian to mistake this ridge for a work of art, and to suppose that some of the aboriginal inhabitants of our country knew how to annihilate distance by rail roads." Other sand and gravel deposits formed as mounds or terraces (kames) adjacent to melting ice, or as outwash in valleys in front of the glacier. Many of these water-laid deposits are well stratified, in contrast to the chaotic mixture of boulders and sediment of all sizes (till) that was released from dirty ice without subsequent reworking. Ridges consisting of till or washed sediments (moraines) were constructed parallel to the ice margin in places where the glacier was still actively flowing and conveying rock debris to its terminus. Moraine ridges are abundant in the zone of former marine submergence, where they are useful indicators of the pattern of ice retreat. By 12,000 years ago the glacier had shrunk to a local ice cap covering northern Maine and parts of neighboring Quebec and New Brunswick. This local ice mass had been cut off from the principal Laurentide ice sheet in Canada by encroachment of the sea up the St. Lawrence River valley. The residual ice cap developed a new flow pattern such that ice in northernmost Maine actually flowed back toward Canada! The last remnants of glacial ice probably were gone from Maine by 10,000 years ago. This location brings you to a cross section of the esker. Looking around you can see the evidence of stream flow. Just beyond the location to the west you will see a second esker that was moving at a much slower rates. They two esker were formed in different directions. To claim this you will need a photo of you and the esker or your GPS and the esker. There are many different places that offer interesting cross sectional views. Turn at the US Border Station on US Route 1.

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