Elrod Falls EarthCache
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On Route 31, 11 miles north of Mooresburg, turn left on an
unnamed gravel road labelled with a small sign for the Falls.
Follow GPSr to parking. A trail leads 0.1 miles to the base of the
falls.
The Elrod Falls
Before discussing the Falls let’s briefly look at the
surrounding geology. The nearby Clinch Mountains were formed by an
uprifting that occurred during the Alleghenian orogeny. The
orogeny, which is another name for mountain forming, is one of the
mountain-forming events that created the Appalachian Mountains
which incudes the nearby Clinch Mountain. Approximately 350 million
to 300 million years ago during the Carboniferous period, Gondwana
which later was to be known as Africa, and what became North
America collided they formed the super continent, Pangaea. This
collision created massive stress on what is today the Eastern
Seaboard of North America. This stress resulted in a large-scale
uplift of the entire region. It was during this time the Clinch
Mountains were formed. Much, much earlier there was a lot of inland
water in the area and various rivers, lakes and creeks covered the
area.
The rock of the Clinch and surrounding hills is sandstone.
The sandstone is part of a very large formation known as the Clinch
Formation. The Appalachian Mountains are known to be some of the
oldest mountains in the World. Can you imagine that at one time in
the World’s history, the Appy and the Clinch Mountains would
have rivaled the highest mountains in thew World? Millions of years
ago the mountains began to erode and were nearly flat. Due to a
‘push up’ or continued up rifting, the mountains rose
again from their flattened state. This is a continuous process so
if you stick around for several million more years, this area may
be a flattened plain!
Being a sedimentary rock, sandstone is very subject to
erosion. Wind, freezing temperatures and rain all take their toll
on the relatively soft sandstone. Sandstone is constantly changing.
Sand grains which are mostly quartz collect and with lithification
form sandstone which in turn may metamorphisize into quartzite or
continue the cycle and erode into sand. It is because of erosion
that we have the beautiful Elrod Falls to view.
Flat Gap Creek begins high on the Clinch Mountain in
Hancock County Tennessee and eventually empties into the Clinch
River. The Clinch River flows south to form the Norris Reservoir.
Much before the Flat Gap Creek empties into the Clinch River it
pours over the relatively soft bedrock of Clinch Sandstone and with
gravity and the wearing factor of the flow, the Elrod Falls were
formed.
How Falls Are Formed
Elrod Falls are but one type of several classifications of
waterfalls. Among the differing types of falls are:
Block-the water descends from a relatively wide
stream or river, Cascade-the water descends a series of rock
steps, Cataract-a large powerful waterfall which rushes down
with force, Fan-the water spreads horizontally as it
descends while remaining in contact with bedrock,
Horsetail-descending water maintains some contact with
bedrock, Plunge-water descends vertically, losing contact
with the bedrock surface, Punchbowl-water descends in a
constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool,
Segmented-distinctly separate flows of water form as it
descends, Tiered-water drops in a series of distinct steps
of falls, Multi-step a series of waterfalls one after
another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken
pool.
Now for the Elrod Falls. The Falls are in fact three
tiers or stages. The total height of all three stages is near 100
feet. If you want to cross the shallow stream at the base of the
lower falls, it is easily done. But if you wish to view the upper
two stages after the creek crossing, there is a very steep,
strenuous trail to the right of the lower falls, which will take
you to the top. Be careful, as the trail is sometimes damp and can
be very slick. Please note: you do not have to climb the
trail to claim a find of this EarthCache. The coordinates will take
you to the lower falls and that will do. Going up? That’s
totally up to you but watch your step!
In order for you to claim a find you must complete the
following tasks: 1. Email us answers to the following
questions: A. From what you observe and using the above
list, what type of falls are the Elrod Falls?, B.
Estimate the height and width of the Falls, C. If
your GPSr is so equipped, what is the elevation at the base of the
Falls?, 2. Please post a photo with your GPSr
pointing to the Falls. While it would be nice, it is not necessary
to show your face in the picture.
Be careful and have fun and enjoy another wonder of nature.
Many thanks go to the Hancock County Government for permission to
develop this Earthcache. We appreciate their sponsorship of the
Park and the Falls!
This Earthcache was approved by the
Geological Society of America
| We have earned GSA's highest level: |
 |
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
"V'z snyyva' urnq-bire-urryf sbe lbh!"
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