Witness to Time EarthCache
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This EarthCache is located at a Scenic Overlook along HWY 212 just east of Granite Falls, MN.
Below this Scenic Overlook is the Minnesota River Valley. Some of the oldest rocks in the world lie exposed on the valley floor. These grey, pink and red granite rocks are memorials to fiery young Earth when molten rock in the planet's interior pushed against the Earth's crust, deforming it, and creating mountains. For eons, water and ice relentlessly eroded the mountains, leaving the rolling plains that you see today.
After the last ice age, 12,000 years ago, mile-high glaciers melted, forming Glacial Lake Agassiz to the north of here. The outlet for the lake was the Glacial River Warren, which carved the large valley you see from this vantage point. The abrasive current streamlined the rock outcroppings in its way. The roar of rushing water and tumbling boulders would have been heard for miles. Today, the gentle Minnesota River creates barely a whisper as it flows almost unnoticed in the shadow of its prehistoric glory.
Across the river, spearheads, knives, hide-scrapers and other stone tools have been discovered in association with extinct forms of bison. These bison-butchering sites have date human occupation of the valley to 6,400 years ago.
To Log this cache email me the answers to the following questions through my profile:
1) How long ago were the rocks formed that are exposed on the valley floor?
2) How high is it estimated that mountains were in this area 'eons ago'?
3) Post a photo of your group, with GPS visible and the valley in the background in your log or to the gallery.
There is also a regular-sized, traditional physical cache located nearby, placed by loneeagle_24.
Additional Hints
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Treasures
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