"The Cove" Earthcache at Mine Falls Park
A cache by solid-rock-seekers Hidden: 10/4/2005
Size:  (Not chosen) Difficulty: Terrain: (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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Mine Falls Park is the home to The Cove, an excellent example of an
oxbow lake. This cache will take you to the Educational Overlook
Deck where you will be able to learn about the formation of an
oxbow lake and partake of an excellent view of The Cove.

Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park located in the heart
of the City of Nashua, includes forest, wetlands, and open fields.
The park is the home to The Cove, an excellent example of an
oxbow lake. This earth cache will take you to the Educational
Overlook Deck at "The Cove" where you will be able to learn about
the formation of an oxbow lake and partake of an excellent view of
The Cove.
Educational Information:
- The Course of New England Rivers
Most New England rivers start in steep, mountain areas as a stream
with rapidly-flowing cold water. Such a stream flows down a
mountain valley and merges with other streams to form a small
river. As the small river flows further downhill, tributaries
(smaller rivers or streams) flow into the river, increasing the
amount of water in the river. The rapidly flowing water erodes
(wears away) soil from the banks to carry it downstream.
Eventually, the river reaches areas where the surrounding terrain
flattens out and the river widens.
In flat areas, the flow of the river slows down, allowing the
soil carried in the river to settle out in a process called
deposition. The speed of the flow in the river varies wherever the
river goes around a corner, causing the river to meander (follow a
winding path) as it crosses areas that are mostly flat. Sometimes a
long meander is cut off from the river's regular flow of water, and
a crescent-shaped lake is formed. Such a lake is called an oxbow
lake due to the distinctive curved shape that results from this
process. The sequence of steps leading to the formation of an oxbow
lake is illustrated below:
- The Formation of an Oxbow Lake
- A gently meandering river flows through an area of relatively
flat terrain.
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- Water flows at different speeds as it goes around bends in a
meandering river. On the outside banks of corners, the river water
moves the fastest, causing lateral erosion and undercutting.
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- Meanwhile, on the inside banks of corners in the river, the
water flows more slowly, leading to sediment settling out of the
water and building up on the inside banks. This process is called
deposition.
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- Gradually, the inside banks are filled in with accumulated
deposits, and the outside bends extend further and further, forming
a wide loop in the river.
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- The loop continues to bend further and further, until a thin
strip of land called a neck is created at the beginning and the end
of the meander.
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- Eventually, the narrow neck is cut through by either gradual
erosion or during a time of flooding. (Spring flooding is
commonplace in New England when rivers rise due to snow melting
near the river's source.) When this happens, a new straighter
channel is created, diverting the flow of the river from the loop
into the new channel.
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- Deposition finally seals the cut-off from the river channel,
leaving a horseshoe-shaped oxbow lake. The water in the oxbow lake
is no longer refreshed by the river, transforming the habitat from
one supporting river life to one that is hospitable to pond
life.
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- The Oxbow Lake in Mine Falls Park
The Oxbow Lake here in Mine Falls Park probably formed as described
above. In order to log this earth cache, you will need to do the
following:
- Visit the Oxbow Lake at Mine Falls Park. The primary parking
area for the cache is at N 42 45.615 W 071 29.447. Follow the
marked trails to the "Educational Overlook Deck" at the listed
coordinates.
- Read the "Formation of a Landform" sign next to the Educational
Overlook Deck. The sign describes how oxbow lakes are formed. You
will need to read the sign carefully to find verbatim answers to
the following two earth science questions:
- Over what "period of time" did the cove form? (This answer
should be two words.)
- After flooding, there are "portions of something
remaining." What is the something? (This answer should be
four words.)
Email the cache author with the answers to the above two questions
before posting your find.
- Other Resources:
For further information on current topics regarding the research,
study, and monitoring of oxbow lakes, you may wish to see the
following resources:

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