Woods Bay, A Natural Mystery
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Carolina Bays, Earth’s natural mysteries, are geologic formations
of unknown origin found along eight hundred miles of the Atlantic
Coastal Plain. Carolina Bays are found in Delaware, New Jersey,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
northern Florida from each state’s fall line to the coast. However,
the largest concentrations are found in North Carolina and South
Carolina, thus the name Carolina Bays.
Carolina Bays are geomorphic features studied by geologists,
ecologists and biologists.
The Carolina bays are shallow, elliptical depressions and are
usually found in groups with each bay’s long axes aligned in a
northwest to southeast direction. A sand ridge is
characteristically associated with these features and is most
visible along the southeastern edge. But, some Carolina Bays are
totally surrounded by a sand rim and some have no sandy rim
present. Carolina Bays show no obvious water inlet or outlet.
Carolina Bays range in size from only one to many thousands of
acres and vary in length from just a couple hundred yards to
several miles. Approximately 500,000 Carolina bays are present in
the Atlantic Coastal Plain. In South Carolina, it is estimated that
four thousand Carolina Bays are present. It should be noted that
presently most of the Carolina bays have been drained, plowed,
filled or paved by farmers and developers. Many bays have had their
trees harvested and their rich soils cultivated. In fact, more than
97 percent of the Carolina Bays once found in South Carolina have
been severely altered or destroyed. It is still possible in most of
these cases to view the outline of these bays from above. The rich
soil still remains much darker than the surrounding soils typical
of the Coastal Plain sandy soil. Of the four thousand Carolina Bays
only thirty six are still similar to their original, natural
condition. Woods Bay Natural Area contains one of the last
remaining large Carolina Bays on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
The Carolina bays differ in vegetation depending upon the acreage,
depth and the hydrology-the movement, distribution, and quality of
water. Some Carolina bays are large open water basins with
scattered cypress. Some are palustrine wetlands with deep, acidic,
sandy, peat soils with vegetation growing on floating peat mats.
Still others exist as dry savannahs for all or parts of the year.
Why are Carolina Bays called Earth’s natural mysteries? Because
earth scientists are not certain of the origin of Carolina Bays.
Researchers believe the Carolina Bays to be at least 30,000 years
old. But, scientists have yet to determine the age or origin of the
Bays. Various theories have been debated over the years. Common
theories include Pleistocene winds, artesian springs, eddies, the
action of ocean currents when the area was under the cool, deep sea
that once covered the area, the upwelling of ground water after the
ocean receded, meteorite showers, and once it was even considered
that the dinosaur footprints resulted in these unusual depressions.
The very first descriptions of Carolina Bays were made by John
Lawson in the early eighteenth century. Mr. Lawson, a naturalist,
called the bays pocosions, a Native American word that translates
into English as swamp on a hill. It was noticed that a variety of
bay trees grew within the pocosions and this led to the areas being
called bays. Later, since most of the bays are concentrated in
North and South Carolina, the pocosions eventually became known as
Carolina Bays. Scientists of this time became interested in the
Carolina Bays. It was noticed that the bays were somewhat circular
and that they were raised above the surrounding area. But, it
wasn’t until aerial photography in the middle 1930s became
available that people really began to realize the amazing features
of the Carolina Bays. Then theories on the origins of Carolina Bays
began to be discussed.
The theory that the bays were the result of ancient meteorite
activity was very popular during the time the first photos were
available. However, there have been no extraterrestrial meteorite
fragments found on the earth surrounding the bays or under the
waters of the bays to account for this theory. Also, the craters
typical of meteorite activity are generally circular, not
elliptical as are the Carolina Bays.
Later, in the 1950s, it was theorized that the Carolina Bays are
the result of natural tidal eddies. This area of the Coastal Plain
was once covered by a cool, deep ocean. It was proposed that the
natural currents and swirling tides responded to the earth’s
rotation and created the bays on this ancient Pleistocene
coastline. However, today’s geologist have studied the current
coastline in order to see if such elliptical features are currently
forming and there is no evidence of such bays being created along
the coast today. Therefore, this theory fell from favor.
A more recent theory developed in the late 1970s that strong winds
from the west and the southwest during the Pleistocene era may have
helped to create bays aligned in a northwest to southeast
direction. This era was a time when ocean levels rose around the
world when glaciers melted and then the oceans dropped again when
the glaciers again formed. During this period lakes formed and were
influenced by the strong winds.
Today’s earth scientists have developed a newer working theory.
However, geologists, ecologists and biologists continue to study
the Carolina Bays to gain a better understanding of the geological
formations, the relations and interactions between organisms and
the Carolina Bay environment and the science of life within the
Bays. The current theory is that a combination of processes created
the shapes and orientations of the ancient Carolina Bays, including
climate change, the formation of siliclastic karst by solution of
subsurface material during glacial sea level low stands and later
modification of these depressions by periodic eolian (pertaining to
sand or rock material carried or arranged by the wind) and
lacustrine (pertaining to lakes- formed at the bottom or along the
shore of lakes) processes over the past 70,000 to 100,000 years.
Also, Quaternary geologists and geomorphologists believe to have
found a correlation in time between when the active modification of
the rims of Carolina Bays most commonly occurred and when adjacent
sand dunes were active during the last glacial period which
occurred in the Pleistocene epoch which began about 110,000 years
ago and ended between 10,000 and 15,000 before the present time.
During this period there were several changes between glacier
advance and retreat. It has also been found that the directional
orientations of the Carolina Bays are consistent with the wind
patterns that existed during the time of the last glacial period.
______________________________________________________________________
This earthcache brings you to Woods Bay State Natural Area. At this
area you will explore one of the last remaining large Carolina Bays
on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. You may explore the area by land on
the boardwalk and trails or by canoe on the one mile long canoe
trail. More than 75 species of mammals, amphibians (like carpenter
frogs) and reptiles are found at Woods Bay. You may also encounter
150 species of birds that spend time in the park depending upon the
current season. Woods Bay State Natural Area also features a nature
center (open as time permits), picnic shelters, hiking trails, a
500 foot boardwalk, canoeing trail and wildlife viewing
opportunities.
Woods Bay State Natural is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
While you can spend hours of enjoyment exploring the area, please
allow at least 30 minutes minimum time to locate, explore and
retrieve the required information for this earthcache.
To reach the park: From Interstate 95, Take exit 141 onto Hwy 53/58
Eastbound. Go South on Hwy 58 toward Shiloh. Turn East onto Woods
Bay Road (Hwy 48). Travel approximately 4½ mi the park will be on
your right.
There is currently no fee required to visit the area. But, there is
a donation box to help the park.
______________________________________________________________________
In order to log this earthcache as found you will need to email to
me your answers to the following questions.
1. The geology of Woods Bay supports four distinct plant community
types. What are the four types?
2. Of the four types of plant communities, which type composes the
largest area of the Bay?
3. What is the size of this geologic formation? Please use the
information found on the sign at the posted coordinates to
determine this answer. Other information sources (internet for
example) differ slightly from the information posted on site.
4. What is the shape of this Carolina Bay?
5. The long axis of Woods Bay is aligned in what direction?
6. Along the boardwalk trail, you will learn about a living member
of a prehistoric species that populates these waters. What is the
common name of this living prehistoric creature?
7. A photo of you and your GPSr is always appreciated as added
proof of your visit. If you have the ability to take and upload a
photo, please do so. If you do not have that ability, please don’t
let that keep you from exploring the Carolina Bay, learning a bit
about earth science or logging this earthcache.
Congratulations to Tigerz for being FTF this earthcache.
As of April 11, 2009, I am adding this note
to all of my earthcache listings. I request that you email the
answers to me on the same day that you log your “found it” log.
(This does not have to be the day you visit, just the day you log
the find on the computer.) I also request that you do not log a
“found it” log unless you have actually visited the site of the
earthcache and sent the answers to me. As much as I hate to do so,
I will delete logs of finders who have not provided the appropriate
answers.
Murphy, Carolyn. Carolina Rocks!. Orangeburg: Sandlapper
Publishing Co., Inc, 1995.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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