Flint Hills Scenic View
A Scenic stop and go along KS Hwy 177. Nestled right in the middle of the Flint Hills, your opportunity to stop and learn about the stable but yet fragile eco-system of the great area of Kansas.
The Flint Hills is a unique ecoregion, running from the southern part of Nebraska through east-central Kansas and on down into northern Oklahoma, named in 1806 by Zebulon Pike (Mr. Pike of Pike's Peak), for the pieces of chert rock or flint that came up through the grass. The Flint Hills were created during the Permian Period when much of this land was underwater as a shallow sea. Most of the Flint Hills are created by a layers of limestone and shale. The most notable layer is the chert bearing Florence Limestone and is approximately 45 feet thick. This can be most commonly viewed in road cuts along US Hwy 50 and Interstate Hwy 70. Much of the Honey colored limestone in this are has been used in one form or another for buildings in the area. Though the non chert bearing limestone is best for use here, the chert is a very hard stone but can be fragile and crack easily.
An example of the Native Limestone in a nearby building,
the Chase County Courthouse.
Due to the nature of the soil and the chert content, farming in this area is almost unheard of and much of this grass land is still the way it was back in the early 1800’s when settlers first came to the area. Still sparsely populated the Flint Hills contain the largest area with the most remaining tall grass prairie in the world. There area actually 3 preserves in the flint hills that can be visited. They are the Tall Grass Preserve in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, which boasts one of the largest herds of buffalo, the Tall Grass National Prairie Preserve which is just North of here, and the Konza Prairie which is located near Manhattan, KS.
The Flint Hills have long been used for herding cattle, and much of this area is also ranchland, though less than 20% of all the cattle in the area stay here. Many are brought into the area to feed and then are shipped back out. There is also abundant wildlife that inhabits this vast prairie.
The Different Geological Regions of Kansas
Now For your assignment to claim this earthcache...
You will need to proceed to the following Coordinates:
N 38°19.304', W 96°32.575'
Here you will find another good viewing area that also contains four information boards. To Complete the cache you must answer the questions from the nearby boards in relation to the prairie grassland here. You will also have to note some of the Geological features here too.
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1: Wild Wildflowers
What Are 4 colors that can be seen in the flowers in this region?
But the milkweed is poisonous to what animal, also what is it used to treat in humans?
2: Four Legged Tourists
From what Months are most cattle brought to the Flint Hills region?
3: It’s a Wild Life Here
In prehistoric times what roamed here in large herds?
List 4 of the 10 animals that still inhabit this area.
How many different bird species have been seen here?
4: Top Six Reasons the grass is not always tall.
A. ______ eat it.
B. It ____________ in a long time.
C. Kansas _______ ______its growth.
5: Geological Information: Elevation
A. I would Like to know about the Elevation. Note the Elevation (Altitude) here and also from your home. Tell me what they are.
B. Calculate the difference in Elevation (Altitude) and tell me the difference.
6: Geological Information: Analytical Thinking
Take a look Due West of the site. You can see some of the rock exposed from the receding of the ancient sea. In What direction does it travel?
7: Photo-op
Lastly take a photo of yourself at the site, and post it with your on-line log.
Once you have visited here please send your answers to me through the geocaching profile by using the link at the username at the top of this page.
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Cache In Trash Out is an environmental activity intimately tied to geocaching. While out there looking for nearby caches, look around and collect litter along the trails and properly dispose of it. Practice policies of Leave No Trace (LNT.org), the center for outdoor ethics.
REMEMBER:
- Make the fair trade.
- Log your visit.
- Leave the site better than you found it.
- Protect the environment — always.
- Educate those around you.
- Find another cache!
Good luck, and may all your cache dreams come true.
—cantuland
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