The Invisible River EarthCache
Hidden : 8/26/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


It's the flat area in front of you that contains the invisible river! This was the old path of the River Ribble, straight across this valley flowing from right to left.

From this viewpoint, you can clearly see the hills of Parlick, Wolf Fell and Fair Snape Fell.

Glaciers moved South here, dramatically altering the landscape. They pushed the geology upwards to create the hills, and went over to create the flats, essentially rolling a whole section of land southwards.

The rivers didn't flow when the glaciers were about. These glaciers created the hills you see, and the plains, plus also Longrige Fell which is behind you to your right.

The glaciers melted, and the contours on this part of Lancashire had been completely changed. The rivers started to flow again, but had to find a new path through Great Mitton, and some considerable distance south of the plains you can see.

We know all this because geologists have studied the rocks and can see how they have folded.



The landscape here is floored by rocks of Carboniferous series laid down as sediments 280-345 million years ago beneath a shallow tropical sea. These rocks were later upfolded in a mountain-building episode, and Chipping Vale is the eroded remnant of this upfold.

The oldest rocks, the Chatburn and Clitheroe Limestones, now occupy the centre of the valley below the axis of the fold. The somewhat younger Millstone Grits form flanking hills - the Bowland hills and Longridge Fell near where we are standing.

The limestones and shales were formed from deposits laid down in relatively deep water. The sandstones and grits were laid down in the delta of a great river which later flowed into the shallow sea.

To log this earth cache, email me the answers to the following :

All this happened during the Westphallian, Namurian and Dinantian period of history. This is collectively known as what? (it begins with C).

What river remains in the valley, and joins the Ribble at Great Mitton?

You must also attach at least 3 photos :
1. You and/or your GPS at the above co-ordinates.
2. A photo of the area supported by Millstone Grit.
3. A photo of the area supported by Chatburn / Clitheroe Limestones.

*Label these as "Millstone" or "Limestone".

You can find the answer to one of the above questions here.

You don't need to wait for a reply to your email to log this cache, but your answers WILL be checked!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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