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!
NOTE: There are now only TWO logging requirement options
for this earthcache. Before logging a find for this cache, please
(1) send us the name of any creature that is endemic to Lake
Waccamaw, or (2) tell us which carolina bay formation theory
described in the visitor center makes the most sense to you. Please
send this information to us through our geocaching profile -
answers posted in logs will be deleted immediately. Thank
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
***FTF Honors Go To geopoppa!!***
