The Pine Creek Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania,
is the site of fasinating geological history. The Allegheny
Plateau, which formed some 300 million years ago underwent
tremendous changes with the last being about 20,000 years ago
during the last ice age. Until then, Pine Creek flowed in a
northeast direction from this point and the streams to the south
flowed in a southwest direction. Over the next one thousand years,
the Laurentide Continental Glacier, which covered most of North
America slowly moved into the area. It advanced and receded several
times pushing soil, rocks, and other debris which dammed Pine Creek
forming a large meltwater lake north of Ansonia. As the glacier
melted, this lake grew and grew until it overflowed the debris dam
which caused a reversal of the flow of Pine Creek. The creek
flooded to the south and quickly washed a deep channel in the
relatively soft shale and siltstone, on its way to the West Branch
Susquehanna River. Thousands of years of erosion by Pine Creek has
carved the spectacular gorge we know as the Grand Canyon of
Pennsylvania.
To log this EarthCache:
1) Estimate the depth of the gorge from this point. (There's a Topo
map on the back of the park pamplet)
2) How many stone pillars are there on this overlook?
3) Post a pic of you or your party with the gorge in the
background.
Picture should be posted with your log, but answers should not.
Please email your answers to me.
*Failure to fulfill the EarthCache requirements may result in your
log being deleted.*
You can become an EarthCache Master too! Follow the link for
details.