Maine’s Magical Roadside Water Source EarthCache
Hidden : 6/20/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


This earthcache is what is considered to be a roadside gravity spring called Crommett Spring. We often stop here on our travels to Baxter State Park.

Springs have been important to civilizations throughout history. In many parts of the world, springs are the only safe and reliable source of water. References to springs and their formation can be found in the Bible, as well as many other writings. Spring water continues to have a fascination and a cachet that make it valuable in today's retail market. But what is a spring? Why and where do they form?

A spring is defined as a concentrated discharge of ground water to the surface. Ground water flows through aquifers (literally, water-bearers) from recharge areas, on uplands, where it is replenished by rainfall and snow melt to discharge areas, in valleys, where it flows to the surface into streams and rivers, providing them with dry-weather flow. When the flow paths are focused by either topographic or geologic factors, ground water will flow to the surface. Most springs in Maine can be generally classified as gravity springs. The water flowing from the recharge area has energy derived from the higher elevation of that area. This gravitational energy forces the water to move through the sand or rock of the aquifer. Most of the time, the energy is pretty much used up by the time the ground water discharges to a stream.

Springs hold magic for us. The sight of water bubbling from the ground can still inspire myth, even when we understand it as a phenomenon driven by simple physical properties of the aquifer, the topography, rainfall, and gravity. Ground water is invisible on its journey through soil and rock, and its appearance as springs is the only naturally-occurring evidence of its presence. At some places, the ground water that discharges at a spring may have been rainfall a few hundred feet up the slope just weeks before. In other places, the journey through the ground may have taken several years and miles to complete.

This small hillside spring is not unlike many of the roadside springs that have been developed near roads in Maine. Often, a pipe is driven into the hill to help concentrate the discharge so that passers by can use the spring.

To log this Earthcache: Send an e-mail measuring the rate of flow of the spring which is done using a bottle and watch. Time how long it takes to fill a one gallon bottle. The second part of the task is to determine the temperature of the spring, this is the yearly average temperature for this area of Maine. It also would be nice if you would post a photo so others would know what they have to look forward to at this earth cache.

Please remember that this water has not been tested by the state and as such is not considered to be a safe source of drinking water.

More information about Maine's Springs can be found at (visit link)

If you enjoy this earthcache you may want to check the Maine Geological Survey located at (visit link)
They have developed a number of information sheets or field localities giving a great deal of information about geologic features. They also have a number of books and maps about Maine’s natural history/ geology that you might find interesting.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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