Gooseberry Falls EarthCache
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Gooseberry Falls State Park is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. This 1300 acre park provided.
The dark colored rock that is exposed throughout this park is basalt. Basalt is an igneous rock that ranges from gray to black and is fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava on the Earth's surface. About 1.1 billion years ago, the continent began to tear apart along a fissure called the Mid-continental Rift, which extended north to south from the Lake Superior area to Kansas. As this area ripped apart, lava flows covered the landscape. Scientists mapping out these lava flows have determined that they slowly spread out from Lake Superior’s north shore, throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and down into the St. Croix River valley by Taylor’s Falls. There are at least 30 different flows that covered the park area each ranging from a foot thick to over 60 feet thick.
However, what brings most visitors to Gooseberry Falls are the waterfalls. As the Gooseberry River flows through the park, its water cascades down five waterfalls. From the visitor’s center, you walk a paved trail to the Upper, Middle and Lower falls. The trail to the Fifth Falls is across the bridge and about a mile walk away from the visitor’s center. Like all waterfalls, the flow of the cascading water is eroding the softer layers of rock. Unlike many other waterfalls in Minnesota, here the water is eroding the softer lava flows, rather than a softer sedimentary rock layer.
Logging requirement: To log this earthcache you must complete 3 requirements.
At GZ you will find an informational sign that is going to tell you about the geology of the Gooseberry Falls area. Reading and answering the question for Requirement #1 is found here. Requirements #2 and #3 are completed at the Middle or Lower Falls area. So a walk down to the river is required.
Please be very careful around the river. Read and follow all Park regulations regarding it. The pools around the falls are deep and at sometimes during the year, the current is dangerous. Please watch your children and Happy Earthcaching…
Requirement #1: According to the sign, To what thickness did the lava flows reach before they collapsed?
Requirement #2: Post a photo of you/group with your GPSr in hand atv your favorite location in the Middle or Lower Falls
area. If alone, the GPSr arm shot is ok.
Requirement #3: Estimate the speed of the river’s current. Use a stick or leaf. Walk off a short section of river and use the formula- Speed= distance divided by time
* Winter requirement- #1 and #2
Information for this Earthcache was provided by the MN DNR website and the Geological Society of MN.
Email your answers to the questions, to me, using the link in my profile only. If your answers are not recieved by me in an appropriate amount of time, your log will be deleted. Photos are accepted and appreciated as long as the answers to the questions are not revealed. You do not have to wait for confirmation from me before logging this cache as completed. Most of all……learn……and enjoy the view.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)