Benmore's Best Kept Secret EarthCache
Hidden : 10/17/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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 is at a location which is one of New Zealand’s best secrets that not many people know about but rely on so heavily.

This cache is at the location of New Zealand’s largest man made earth dam which generates electricity and second largest hydroelectric dam – Benmore (built between 1957-1964).



However this is not the purpose of this cache. Its purpose is to show how the area has changed during and after the building of the dam which is why the questions are about the area - the landscape and the geology and not the dam itself. This is why there is a question about a tractor which can be seen at the Benmore Information Centre because during the building of the dam these heavy earth moving machines would’ve been a common site on the Benmore Dam Road.

This cache is situated near the place which has made the surrounding area one of the most beautiful places on earth. These views are best seen by boat on Lake Benmore however where this cache is also gives you marvellous views of Loch Laird, which because of the building of the dam has made a great place for picnics, swimming and water sports like skiing and bisuiting. The Waitaki Valley has been significantly transformed because of the Waitaki Hydro Scheme. This has seen towns like Kurow, Otematata, Omarama and Twizel developed because of it. During the building of the dam Otematata’s population peaked at the end of April 1964 at 4280 people. By this time Otematata had changed rapidly from being nothing to being a bustling major town with a post office, cinema, two schools and a lot more. Now most of this is gone with Otematata now being mainly a holiday spot.

The dam also has a very interesting geological history as well. At the bottom of the spillway there used to be a huge rock which is no longer there. This is due to floods in the late 1990's when the dam spilled a lot of water it got washed away. They dumped so much water you could not see the rock while they were spilling and after they had it had disappeared. The water had either rolled it down stream underwater or more likely smashed it to smithereens. It is also interesting to note that there was a spike of 29 shocks that occured in the six years after the completion of the Benmore Dam. However most people did not feel them. These shocks weren't caused by the dam but instead released the stress that had occured in the ground anyway which eventually would've been released anyway. The dam itself runs between two natural projections. One holds the spillway and the other the intake block and penstocks – large pipes that channel water into the station. The dam core is built of waterproof clay-like material, supported by two massive shoulders of river gravel and an outer layer of rock designed to withstand the effects of waves and weather.

Another worthwhile visit while getting this cache is the Benmore Information Centre right at the cache site. It contains many fun and informative interactive displays for young and old about the area and the dam itself.

You cannot get this cache at night as you can’t truly appreciate the majestic views you get of the lake and mountainside. Any logs which don’t meet this requirement will be deleted.

To prove you have visited the site and learned something please do the following:
1. Go to the posted co-ordinates and describe the landscape, the weather and lake conditions (e.g. calm, rough, number of boats / swimmers / water-skiers / biscuiters etc.), and anything that is happening at the dam (e.g. was it spilling water, was the crane at the top operating etc.).
2. Go for a walk around to the earthmoving machine outside the information centre and find out what make and model it is, how many horsepower it is and its weight.
3. Take a photo from the posted co-ordinates showing a scenic view of the hills, the dam or anything else you enjoy the sight of.  You must have your GPS in the photo.  (You can be in it too if you so desire!)
Please email the cache owner the answers to questions 1 & 2 and put the picture for question 3 in your cache log.
Please when you send the answers can you please make sure the box is ticked which says "I want to send my email address along with this message" as it enables me to get back to you quicker. Thank you!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us