Unbeknownst to many, there are two enormous garbage dumps lurking in the ocean to the west of this beautiful state. The Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch floats between Hawaii and California, while the Western Pacific Garbage Patch floats between the East of Japan and the West of Hawaii. Collectively, they are known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and cover an area twice the size of the continental United States.
To find this cache you will need to learn a little more about where your plastic goes. The cache container is a “recycled” orange plastic drug vial picked up from a box marked “free stuff”.
Find the cache at N47 KC.HCE W122 HK.JIG
1. What is the percent of ocean trash that originates on land? = AB
2. In 2006, how many pieces of plastic did the UN Environment Program estimate were in every square mile of ocean? Let the first number = C
3. The number of years it takes to break down a single plastic disposable diaper, as listed on the linked page = DEF
4. The number of letters in the last name of the Californian who “discovered” the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997 and has tirelessly educated the world about this phenomenon = G **(I recommend listening to the TED talk he gave in CA in February, 2009.)
5. How many marine mammals are estimate to die each year from entanglement? Let the first number = H
6. Plastic does not biodegrade. Other than a small percentage that has been incinerated, every single plastic molecule ever manufactured still exists. Instead, plastic photodegrades into smaller and smaller pieces. What is the name of the smallest particle? Make singular and number of letters = I
7. 500,000 albatross chicks are born every year on Midway Island, HI. Parents often mistakenly give their chicks plastic believing it to be food. How many are estimated to die each year? Let the first number = J
8. K = A-D
--------------------------
Updated final location April 2011 !!
After solving, adjust your coordinates as follows to get to the new location of the final cache:
N = subtract 0.022
W = subtract 0.055
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.