Lake Waccamaw Earthcache

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N/S ? ??.??? W/E ??? ??.???  [] In North Carolina, United States

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Welcome to Lake Waccamaw, one of the most unique bodies of water in the world. Not only is it an extremely large example of the geological phenomenon known as the Carolina Bay, but it is also home to a large number of rare plants and animal species. This state park boasts an excellent visitor center full of educational exhibits, as well as a host of trails and boardwalks around the Lake.

Carolina Bays are shallow, elliptical depressions oriented in a northwest-southeast direction. Their features are not readily noticeable at ground level, but aerial views show their remarkable similarity and abundance. As many as 500,000 of these Bays exist in the Atlantic coastal plain, with the highest concentration found in North and South Carolina. Researchers believe that Carolina Bays are at least 30,000 years old, yet scientists are not certain of their origins. Common theories conclude that underground springs, wind/wave action, and even meteor showers may have formed the Bays, but no one theory has drawn universal acceptance. Lake Waccamaw is a Carolina Bay, sharing a characteristic elliptical shape with thousands of other Bays that pepper the coastal plain of the Carolinas.

All Carolina Bays are unusual, yet Lake Waccamaw is probably the most unique. While most Bays are small, averaging about 500 feet in length, Lake Waccamaw covers nearly 9000 acres. Although all Carolina Bays were once lakes, the great majority have gradually filled with sediment and vegetation. Lake Waccamaw is one of the few Bays which still contains open water. But it is the local geology’s affect on the lake water which makes Lake Waccamaw truly unique. While the water in most of the remaining Carolina Bays is highly acidic, limestone bluffs found along the north shore of Lake Waccamaw create a more neutral pH in the water. This results in conditions that have nurtured a wealth of aquatic life, including some species which are endemic to this body of water-they are found nowhere else on Earth.

Please, please treat this unique area with the respect it deserves and keep to all trails when exploring. Please take nothing from this area, with the exception of pictures and some education. Also, try to time your trip so that you may start your tour in the visitor’s center, which is open Monday-Sunday, 8am-5pm. The exhibits are excellent. Ask for Mr. Helms (Park Superintendent)...he was very excited about Lake Waccamaw being established as an Earthcache, and he looks forward to meeting you!

If you would like to check out the website for Lake Waccamaw State Park (includes a downloadable map), here’s the link: http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/lawa/home.html

Additional Hints ( Decrypt ) 

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)

Pna lbh svther bhg ubj gur Pnebyvan Onlf tbg gurve anzr? (Decrypted Hints)

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Logged Visits ( 120 total. Visit the Gallery (73 images) )

116

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Cache Logs

November 7 by binaryflow (535 found) Found this one yesterday on the way to visit my Grandparents. Thanks! [view this log]

October 11 by LauraK999 (40 found) Lovely spot for picnic and/or hiking. [view this log]

September 15 by queezy (638 found) #600!! We try to make this type number at Earthcaches. We hit paydirt with this one. Even though we have never met them, the Freygirls are some of our favorite cachers and it is always an adventure when we find one of theirs. After all, isn't that what our hobby is all about? Locating memorable spots on this earth and, occasionaly, meeting some truly memorable people who make up this unique fraternity of ours. We thank them again for sending us to this beautiful spot and an Email is forthcoming. We truly hope to meet you somewhere down the Georoad. [view this log]

August 2 by htomc42 (5794 found) Stopped by here on the way home to Raleigh from the beach, this is the first time I've ever seen Lake Waccamaw, its very impressive! It was pouring rain when I arrived, but it did slack up enough so that I could get inside and see the exhibits. Very nice! Too bad some inconsiderate people brought a bunch of their uncontrolled kids who proceeded to scream, run, and slam everything they could like it was a playground- the parents either couldn't or wouldn't do anything to control them. These people should be ashamed. Those kids don't learn a blasted thing by doing that., and I question the whole concept of so many of those "kid-friendly" exhibits. Kids don't care a whit about stuff like that, they just want to play on it. Still, I got to go through the exhibits, it was very neat, thanks! [view this log]

August 1 by adreal (47 found) This was a great cache. I have been coming to Lake Waccamaw my whole life and have never stopped by the visitors center. Thanks. [view this log] A Day at the Lake

Current time: 11/22/2009 6:31:32 AM
Last Updated: 11/8/2009 2:24:56 PM
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum