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GC13EM0

EarthcacheWasaga Dunes

A cache by The Mighty Canadian Juicepig     Hidden: 6/6/2007

Size: Size: Not chosen (Not chosen)     Difficulty: 2 out of 5     Terrain: 2 out of 5 (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)


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N/S ? ??.??? W/E ??? ??.??? 
In Ontario, Canada

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This cache will take you over the Wasaga Sand Dunes to a little known spot - away from the bustle of the Beaches.

Wasaga Beach is the world's largest freshwater beach. Stretching 14 kilometers, The beach can be seen as a barrier island system in development. One of the main reasons for Wasaga Beaches success as a Tourist spot is the sandbars in the Nottawasaga Bay. You can walk out a 500 hundred meters into the water and still find spots that you can stand on. The Sand in this area is made from grounded Shale and Limestone, deposited over time by lagoonal and alluvial (suspended in water) bay deposits.

Unlike Marine coastal barrier beaches, The Wasaga ecosystem does not need to contend with rising tides and oceanic swells - so the sand dunes make very well sorted out sand structures, and subenvironments along the beach. The term for this type of beach is "Lacustrine" meaning it has formed in sedimentary layers.



Thirteen Thousand years ago, Ice lobes advancing from the Canadian shield made Till deposits of ground limestone, and Shale. These Till-fields, formed by Glacial outwash, lay out in the Nottawasaga Bay, and have spread the sand around the area. Glacial Lake Algonquin formed when the Ice was retreating, and spread the Till through the Nottawasaga Valley. As Lake Algonquin retreated, It exposed Wasaga beach Around 7000 years ago. Dune Formation began about 3500 years ago as Glacial lake Simcoe was cut out of the drainage area of the Nottawasaga. Till began flowing back towards lake Huron, and depositing sand at the mouth of the river, and in the area of the bay (hence the sandbars that Wasaga Beach is famous for).



Away from the bustle of the beachfront is the Duneyard. The Sand from these dunes has been deposited over time by the Nottawasaga River, and Alluvial (suspended in water) deposits by the bay. As the water receeded from Glacial Lake Algonquin, wind began forming the dunes by repeatedly moving sand particles over a slope - making the dune shape. There are 4 types of Sanddunes represented here:
  • Cresent Dunes - Solitary Crescent shaped Dunes, with horns facing towards the direction of the wind
  • Traverse Dunes- Large Crescent Dunes that have combined to form ridges
  • Parabolic Dunes-Dunes anchored by plant life, so that parts of the dune migrate, while others do not
  • Longitudinal Dunes-ridges that run parallel to the wind

To Log this cache, Take a picture of your self at the area, and email me the type of dune that the trail passes over to get to this location (If you are having trouble, see the hint). Feel free to log a find without receiving an email response - BUT PLEASE POST YOUR PICTURE IN YOUR LOGS!!!!!

 


2 user(s) watching this cache.

Inventory Inventory

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur Cyndhr ng gur pbbeqvangrf gryyf lbh juvpu glcr bs qhar vg vf(Decrypted Hints)

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

Find...

Formation of a Sanddune

What to expect

Logged Visits (139 total. Visit the Gallery (174 images))

Found it136     Didn't find it1     Write note1     Publish Listing1     

Warning. Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Cache find counts are based on the last time the page generated.

 February 26 by thepapailcrew (23 found)

What a nice cache. What a view!!! thanks alot

View This Log
 February 6 by Paraseekers (325 found)

What an impressive spot! Even in the winter, the dunes show through, given how windswept this ridge appears to be. Magnificent views are afforded from the top of the ridge as it follows the bend of the river below. Except for the exposed nature of being on top of the ridge (it was still quite cold, but relatively sunny), it was a pleasant place to take some great pictures and relax for a short period of time. Now that JP has introduced us to this geological feature, we will definitely return again in the warmer months. TFTC!

View This Log
Photo Waiting Atop the Dune
Photo Wasaga Dunes 1
Photo Wasaga Dunes 2
Photo Wasaga Dunes 3
Photo Watching Wasaga Waterfowl

 December 19, 2009 by keep_on_shinin' (2113 found)

What a wonderful spot. The trail in along the river was lovely on this beautiful day. Very interesting leaning about the dunes. TFTC.
keep_on_shinin'

View This Log
 December 19, 2009 by Tri_Again (2401 found)

This was a nice cache to learn something new about the area. Thanks for bringing us here. I will post my picture shortly.

Tri_Again

[This entry was edited by Tri_Again on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 4:21:49 PM.]

View This Log

Photo Tri_Again at the Dunes
Photo keep_on_shinin' at the Dunes
Photo Nobody at the Dunes

 November 22, 2009 by DavetecsGirl (1033 found)

Kevings came with me to do this cache..........
i walked around going WOW WOW WOW, then as we walked closer to the plague, we saw a kayaker going down the dunes in his kayak and right into the water, that was so cool... took pics will post shortly.

Thanks for taking me to a very interesting, educational and beautiful spot

View This Log

Photo me at the Wasaga Dunes

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Current Time: 3/11/2010 5:05:54 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (1:05 AM GMT)
Last Updated: 3/6/2010 5:17:49 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (1:17 AM GMT)
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum


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