Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is home to the tallest water fall in Missouri, Mina Sauk Falls. Mina Sauk (with water) cascades 132 feet over three distinct drops. It is best visited in the wet spring months (after the thaw) or after a rain for best flows.
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is located in the St. Francois Mountains, one of the most rugged and scenic areas of the state.
Almost 1.5 billion years ago, volcanic eruptions of hot ash settled and cooled to form rhyolite. Erosion has left only the roots of these mountains behind.
Taum Sauk Mountain in the Saint Francois Mountains is also the highest point in the U.S. state of Missouri, 1,772 feet above mean sea level. The peaks of the St. Francois range existed as islands in the shallow seaway throughout most of the Paleozoic Era as the sandstones, limestones, and shales typical of the Ozarks were deposited. Weathering and erosion of these ancient peaks provided the clastic sediments of the surrounding rock layers.
The coordinates will take you to the high point plateau. The park area is fully ADA accessible. The Mina Sauk Trail is a scenic 3-mile loop. You need not complete the hike to meet logging requirements.
To log this EC, post a photo of yourself and your GPSr at the scenic first drop of Mina Sauk Falls and post the coordinates with the shot.
And to demonstrate the educational value of your visit, email the answers to the following three questions:
1. What did the cooled volcanic ash form?
2. What is the total distance that the water falls?
3. What color is the rock which comprises the falls?
____________________________________________________________
Please email your answers to ARF! at this address:
AirRaidFan@aol.com
Please email your answers first, then LOG THE FIND. Do not wait on a reply from me. FINDs which do not meet logging requirements will have to be deleted lest I lose my Platinum credentials. Thanks for understanding.
This EC is hosted by an EarthCache Master
You can be one, too! Click on the Earthcache logo above to see how!
Earthcaching: Leave No Trace!