History of Cape
Scott Provincial Park
Cape Scott Provincial Park was created in 1973 and is 222.9
km2 in size. A 21.7 km trail leads out to this point
from the parking lot and takes three days round trip.
The waters off Cape Scott and world famous for being rough
and have been classified as one of the Graveyards of the Pacific
along the coast. A lighthouse was built in 1960 to help prevent
tragedies and is one of the few lighthouses still manned along the
BC coast. The lighthouse is technically outside the park and is
federal land, but visitors are almost always welcome.
In 1786, the area was given
the name "Cape Scott" in honour of David Scott, a merchant from
Bombay who had backed a trading voyage to the cape. From 1897 until
1910, Danish settlers tried to establish a fishing community near
San Josef Bay. Due to the harsh climate and lack of governmental
support, the community failed and most settlers left the area.
Following that, another attempt was made at Hansen Lagoon,
similarly failing by 1917. Alfred Spencer, the last resident, left
in 1956. There are still remnants of their habitation including
farm equipment, tombstones, and ruins of buildings.
What is a
Tombolo?
A tombolo is a bar of sand or gravel that extends in a spit
to an “anchor” island just offshore.
How Do Tombolos
Form?
This deposition landform is created when waves approach the
island and refract or bend around the island to the opposite side.
The waves on both sides converge and carry sediment with it.
Eventually enough sediment is accumulated to create a land bridge
to the island. With the foul weather the often occurs off the cape,
it’s a small wonder this tombolo formed!
Tombolos are quite fragile and are more susceptible to
weathering than most land forms. Since many Tombolos are parks or
places of habitation, roads are built on top, and must be
stabilized through engineering means. Geologically speaking, they
do not survive long since their anchor island is eroded away in a
few thousand years. Without the island, the tombolo is washed
away.
To Log This
Earthcache
As with all Earthcache sites, there is no physical
container at the site. In order to log your find, you must send me
the answers to the questions through my geocaching.com
profile.
OPTIONAL: Post a picture of
your group at the earthcache site.
1.) Estimate the height of the highest and lowest points of
the tombolo
2.) Do you think this tombolo is going to last a long
time?
3.) What are the names of the three people on the plaque on
the cliff face at the southwest corner of the tombolo?
