This site is a small recreation and scenic reserve surrounding a waterfall, about 18 km southeast of the City of Ballarat. The waterfall, approximately 35 m high, is located at the head of a gorge bordered by steep cliffs along the Lal Lal Creek.
Dense, olivine-rich basalt of Pliocene - Pleistocene age is exposed in the gorge. The basalt comprises two separate flows, both exhibiting columnar jointing, with the columns in the upper flow being narrower (½ – 1 m) than in the bottom flow (1½ – 2 m).
The visible columnar basalt at the cache site
The earliest Basalt flow originated from a volcano near Clarkes Hill which is situated to the north. It covered a layer of 360 million year old Granite. You can see this granite represented as boulders downstream. The later Basalt flow came from the Mt Buninyong and Mt Warrenheip volcanic flows to the West. Waterfalls often develop on the edge of lava plateaus such as this site. Over the last 2.5 Million Years the falls have migrated 1.5 Kilometers upstream. Most erosion occurs during floods when the creek carries large volumes of water.
The co-ordinates take you to an information shelter from which you can learn more
about the geology and history of the site.
The required photo
To log this EarthCache you must complete the following
tasks.
1. Tell us the approximate age of the first basalt layer.
2. Tell us the approximate age of the second basalt layer.
3. In what direction did the falls migrate?
4. Take a photograph of your GPSr (with or without you in the picture) with the falls in the background.
Note:You can e-mail the questions for 1-3 to us by using the
send e-mail feature in our profile. Any logs that do not have an
accompanying e-mail will unfortunately be deleted as per the
EarthCaching guidelines.
NOTE: As of 1st January 2011 the EarthCache guidelines have changed and you do not have to provide a photo. However if your answers are incorrect your log will be deleted. You are more than welcome to add a photo if you so desire to your log as proof of a visit.
The Lal Lal Falls reserve is managed by the Moorabool Shire Council. They ask that you stick to the walking tracks and DO NOT GO DOWN TO THE GORGE BOTTOM to view the waterfall. There have been deaths due to rockfalls in the past and it is closed to the public. The best viewing is from the lookout provided.