Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park was created on December 15, 1970 to protect the unique natural and cultural resources of the area.
Please note that the road leading down the hill to the picnic area will be blocked to vehicular traffic during wet weather and through the winter season. This will not prevent you from being able to log this Earthcache.
The two primary features of interest in the park are easily determined based upon its name: the dry island and the buffalo jump.
Dry Island: The large mesa you see from this location rises nearly 200m above the Red Deer River. It resembles an island but since it was never surrounded by water it was referred to as “Dry Island”. The prairie grasses on top of the mesa have never been disturbed by grazing or cultivation.
Buffalo Jump: Prehistoric natives drove bison over a section of the steep valley wall as a method of hunting. This particular buffalo jump was used at least four times between 500 – 3000 years ago. Archaeologists have found remnants of tools, fire pits and pottery near the base of the jump, indicating there were once camps here where the remains of the bison were processed.
In addition, this area is rich in fossil history from a very interesting period in the Earth’s history. The various layers you can see in the rock faces formed 63 to 68 million years ago. This period falls right during the transition from the Cretaceous Period (Age of Dinosaurs) to the Tertiary Period (Age of Mammals).
Fossils are protected by law – the collection of fossils inside the park is NOT allowed.
To log this Earthcache, you must email the cache owner the answers to the following:
1) Describe, in your own words, the processes which lead to the creation of the dry island.
2) Approximately how long has the Red Deer River been carving this valley?
3) What two features make this buffalo jump unique compared to other buffalo jumps in the province of Alberta?
4) Upload a picture with your log of you with your GPSr at the site. (Optional)
Please do not post the answers in your online log, even if they are encrypted.
I would like to thank the following people for generously allowing me to place this Earthcache in the park:
Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture
Phil Hofer, Dinosaur District Manager responsible for the operation of Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park