Liberty Bend EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

jadefalcon: In reviewing some of my older hides, I've decided to give this one up. Looking at some of the recent pictures, and especially with some of the changes in the area, some spots are not safe to stop at. Not to mention I used a tree as a reference point and it's not there! I think the educational value of this cache is nearly non-existent. I seriously think this earthcache was a stretch (I placed it when I only had an account for one year!) and I do not think it would get published today. And the fact that it has only been visited once in the past two years, and only 80 times in 18 years despite it being this icon and it being very accessible, shows that it is time to go. Sayonara!

More
Hidden : 9/19/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


This earthcache highlights the Liberty Bend in the Missouri River near River Bend, MO. Before 1949, this area was frequently flooded with even relatively light rains, so the Army Corps of Engineers was tasked to build a cutoff to the Liberty Bend to help the floodwaters flow more freely. This channel was opened in 1949 after two years of construction. There was a 10 foot wide channel was cut to provide the river a more straight channel to flow in. After many years of erosion, the river ended up approximately 1000 feet wide in its new channel. This project eliminated 4.7 miles of the river, leaving us this extremely fertile area of land and a dry channel to explore. There are a number of farms and a number of large trees in the area. This area does not flood any more, but due to the high amount of groundwater the region still holds, it remains a very fertile zone. Another tidbit of history of this site: The first bridge to the south was built before the cutoff was created in expectation of the river bend being created, causing the Corps of Engineers to dig underneath the bridge. There are many parks and recreational areas just to the south of the river to explore, and more caches to find! Please enjoy your trip to this little-known piece of area history and geology!

To log this cache, you must do the following:

1. N39 10.828 W94 24.134 - This is a turnoff from 210 hwy (please approach from west) and is near the western connection point to the river. Take a picture of you standing at the location with your GPSr with the green building in the background. This is a good point to look at the swath the river left behind as you are parked in the middle of it. Using your GPSr, estimate the width of the channel at this point. Take a waypoint of the exact location in your GPSr.

2. N39 11.982 W94 24.180 - This is near the northern end of the bend at the end of an abandoned road. You can get an excellent view of the entire river bend valley from this point. Don't get too close to the edge as it is a good distance downward not too far from here. Take a picture of you standing at the location with your GPSr with the same green building from location 1 in the background. If you're having trouble locating it, it is to the right of the large tree just south of the end of the road. What is the elevation at this point? If you don't have the ability to record the elevation, send me what your GPSr model is and tell me what man-made objects are about 50' south of the coordinates. Take a waypoint of the exact location in your GPSr.

3. N39 11.590 W94 23.104 - This is the closest you can get from the north side to the connection point. From this spot, you can see nothing but fields of crops as far as you can see. This highlights the fertile soil in the area left by the river and the massive groundwater table. Take a picture of you standing at the location with your GPSr with the barn to the south in the background. Take a waypoint of the exact location in your GPSr.

4. Seeing the channel from the three above points, estimate the distance of the river channel prior to the cut-off (including the bend) and the new channel distance including the current course of the river.

5. What is the scientific term for this type of fertile area?

6. Email me the following information: The estimate of the width of the channel, your elevation at the second point, the length calculations, and the answer to question 5. With your log, post all three pictures of you with your GPSr.

Please enjoy this area learning about the Missouri River's Liberty Bend!

*Information provided by Corps of Engineers Kansas City division

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us