A Terraced Town EarthCache
Hidden : 7/19/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Castlegar sits at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. This viewpoint provides a nice vantage point to look down the Columbia as well as upstream towards Castlegar and the meeting of the rivers.

During the last glacial period, this entire area was covered in ice. As the climate warmed about 12,000 years ago, the glaciers began to melt and recede. Ice often remained in major valleys longer than the immediate surroundings, as was the case in the Columbia valley. With the valley full of ice, glacial meltwater flowed between the ice and valley wall, depositing sand and gravel. Temporary glacial lakes also formed, and where streams entered the lakes sand, gravel, and silt were deposited in deltas. The deposits from meltwater and deltas sit high above the current level of the Columbia River. As the ice continued to melt and glacial lakes drained (they were often dammed by ice), the flow of the river was established in the current valley. The water cut through the layers of sand and gravel, and as the river cut downwards the former flood and river plains were stranded. The city of Castlegar is built on a series of terraces, which are the stranded valley floors.

Look across the river from the viewpoint as well as up- and down-stream.
To log this EarthCache, email the owner the answers to the following questions:
1. Look upstream. How many terraces up from the river is the one that the Castlegar airport sits on?
2. Look across the river. How many terraces can you count?

Sources:
Turner, R.J.W., Anderson, R.G., Franklin, R., Anderton, L., Fowler, F., GeoTour Guide for the West Kootenay, British Columbia, Geology, Landscapes, Mines, Ghost Towns, Caves, and Hot Springs, Geological Survey of Canada Open File 6135/British Columbia Geological Survey Geofile 2009-06.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us