Rock Bars of Lake Algonquin EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Lisdowney: After much contemplating, I've decided to archive this Earthcache due to the constant "No Trespassing Signs" and "trail closed" signs that appear and disappear throughout the year. Many thanks to all who have visited and enjoyed this Earthcache.

A Special Thanks to Dave Ross aka "Juicepig" for his immense help in establishing this Earthcache many years ago. Dave was one of the first Ontario cachers to create and showcase the geology of Ontario with his awesome Earthcaches.

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Hidden : 4/10/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


As you hike to the posted coordinates, you will walk through and above large sand and gravel bars deposited by wave and ice action when Lake Algonquin was still present. The lush valley below was the Lake bottom in a bay of the Lake, and later, a separate lake in itself.

Gravel Bars are found in the shallowest parts of lakes and rivers; typically the shoreline. Using topographical maps we can guess at what the shoreline might have looked like before the lake disappeared, and also where gravel bars are most likely to be found.


Post-Glacial lake Simcoe Shorelines. 4000ybp (BLUE), 1000 ybp (PURPLE), modern Spring Floods (red) ago)


The Lake was a trapped bay of Glacial lake Algonquin, which retreated from the area 4000 years ago. The lake slowly drained into Georgian Bay and present day lake Simcoe, creating the present day Minesing Swamp, and Nottawasaga lowlands. Although the Glacial lake itself has disappeared, the spring floods still turn much of the Minesing swamp into a lake in early Spring.

Only 1000 years ago, the lake would still have been present. The town of Minesing to the north, gets its name from the Huron dialect; Minesing means "island" even though Minesing is little more then a hill today. Archeological evidence from the shoreline of this lake suggests a fishing culture from both Huron and Laurentian natives.


The Lake reappears during the spring floods in the winter thaw


During the last 150 years the spring floods have decreased significantly. During the initial survey in 1853 by Sir Sanford Flemming the floodlands were measured to be 25 thousand acres. Today these floodlands in the Minesing swamp only cover 15 thousand acres. This is in part due to unsuccessful human attempts at taming the swamp, but also due the natural draining of the swamplands.

TO LOG THIS CACHE:

There is no physical geocache at this site - You must do some dirty work and answer some questions about the local geology.
  • Optional Task.......Take a picture of your group at the posted coordinates looking over the valley lakebed below. Add this photo to the found log
  • go to N44 18.676 W79 47.352 and look at the rocks deposited in the sand
    • EMAIL ME Are they smooth/rough?
    • EMAIL ME are they organized/random?
    • EMAIL ME are the rocks consistent in colour or do they vary?
  • EMAIL ME the elevation change between the trailhead and the posted coordinates

Lisdowney wishes to thank his good friend Juicepig for the awesome aid in the creation of this Earthcache

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