ABOUT THIS LOCATION
This Earthcache will bring you to Ridge Run Park which is part
of the Washington County Park system located in West Bend. The Park
hours are posted at the entrance, 6 AM until 9 PM. This earthcache
is located near the Orrin J. Peters reserved picnic areas which can
be reached off Scenic Drive and Wheat Ridge Lane (N 43 24.772 W 88
13.563). There are two different entrances to this park HOWEVER the
road in the park is closed to vehicle traffic between the two
sides.
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION
There were four major stages of Ice Age Glaciations that left
their mark on the topography and soils of Wisconsin. The last
stage, called the Wisconsin stage, ended approximately 10,000 years
ago. Ridge Run Park has many Ice Age features for you to discover.
I selected this location because it is located just off the
Wisconsin Ice Age Trail. The outwash plains left stratified
deposits consisting of gravel, sand, silt and clay, laid down by
water from the melting ice fronts.
The water in an artesian well flows from an aquifer, which is a
layer of very porous rock or sediment, usually sandstone, capable
of holding and transmitting large quantities of water.
The geologic conditions necessary for an artesian well are an
inclined aquifer sandwiched between impervious rock layers above
and below which trap water in it.
Water enters the exposed edge of the aquifer at a high elevation
and percolates downward through interconnected pore spaces. The
water held in these spaces is under pressure because of the weight
of water in the portion of the aquifer above it.
If a well is drilled (or dug) from a land surface through the
overlying impervious layer into the aquifer, this pressure will
cause the water to rise in the well. In areas where the slope of
the aquifer is great enough, pressure will drive the water above
ground level in a spectacular, permanent fountain.
Artesian springs can occur in similar fashion where faults or
cracks in the overlying impervious layer allow water to flow
upward. Water from an artesian well or spring is usually cold and
free of organic contaminants, making it desirable for drinking.
Technical data...
Pascal's law predicts the theoretical hydrostatic pressure
P:
where p (rho) is the density of the fluid, g the acceleration
due to gravity, and z is the elevation. In practical terms the
pressure is expressed as metres water column (zr - zw).
Enjoy your visit!
To log this earthcache, you must complete
TWO tasks.
1) YOU SELECT THE TASK
a. Bring a thermometer and email me the temperature of the water
on the day of your visit OR b. Bring a container of known
volume and email me how many gallons per minute are flowing from
this artesian well. OR c. Bring your ph testing strips and
email me what the ph reading of the water on the day of your visit.
IT IS NOT ADVISED THAT YOU DRINK THE WATER FROM THIS ARTESIAN,
IT IS NOT TESTED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
2) BRING YOUR CAMERA. We would like a photo of your team
with your GPSr showing the Artesian Well. However, if you are solo
caching, a photo of your GPSr with enough of the location in the
background that can be identified, will also be accepted. Please
upload your photo(s) with your "found it" log.
Please be advised, failure to complete the
TWO tasks listed above (emailing the answer and posting your photo
will result in log deletion without notice.
You do NOT have to wait for confirmation from me before logging
your find. Please do not make any reference to these answers in
your log.
IATCC
is the cache designation to highlight a series of Earthcaches
"ColdCaches" along the Ice Age National
Scenic Trail.
The Ice Age Trail is one of seven nationally designated trails
by the National Park Service and of these seven, the only trail
that is unique to just our state.
This is a project of the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation to
bring more visitors to the trail. More information will be
available at: Ice Age Park
& Trail Foundation
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