WELCOME TO TURKEYPEN FALLS
This beautiful roadside waterfall is named Turkeypen Falls. There is not very much information on these falls. We know the name and according to the topo map, we know that the Turkeypen Branch flows over them. We can also see from the topo map that it starts up the mountain a little ways and ends in Chilhowee Lake. The sedimentary rock here is mostly sandstone and chert. Here at Turkeypen Falls, it’s the chert that’s the resisting layer. Turkeypen Branch has found little resistance eroding the softer sandstone until it found this large chunk of chert. This is how these beautiful falls were created.
You park at the top of the falls and walk about 50ft down to the base. Don’t let the 3 terrain rating scare you. It’s a little steep to get to the base and the leaves make it a little slippery but that’s it. It’s really easy!
Once you get to the base, look around at how unique the layers of rock are around you (it’s also going to be one of the required questions!)
Waterfalls occur where a band of harder rock crosses the path of a river. The river is less able to erode this harder rock and leaves it as a step in the river's long profile. See the image below for a visual reference of how waterfalls work.
There are several different types of waterfalls. The image below shows the different types and gives a brief description
To get credit for this Earthcache you must email me the answers to the following questions:
(1) Take a picture of yourself and/or your group with the falls in the background. This is the most important part, just to prove you were there!
(2) Estimate the height of the falls.
(3) Using the image above which shows the different types of falls, tell me which type you think Turkeypen Falls is?
(4) Look at the surrounding rock layers. What is unique about them (Hint: think in degrees)
This cache can't be done at night unless I can clearly see you in the picture. Please don't post your answers in your log.
Any "FOUND IT" log without your picture and without the correct answers emailed to me will be DELETED. Thanks and HAPPY CACHING!
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