This is an earthcache designed to show the location known as Crook o' Lune. The Crook o Lune is a massive kink in the path of the River Lune as it makes its way into Morecambe Bay. This kink is known as a Meander. This cache is a recreation of another earthcache further south by the Cache Hoppers (GC1B81E)



Crook o Lune from the air



Meanders are formed by erosion. As rivers move from source to mouth, they carry sediment and other material. Energy is needed to carry this sediment. But if the river has some spare energy, it can erode or wear away its bed, banks and other parts of the river.

Most erosion normally occurs on the outside bend of a meander. This is because the water has further to travel. Also, pieces of sediment may be thrown against the river banks to wear them away.

Evidence of erosion on a river bank changes from river to river. Sometimes you can see tree roots hanging. Often there is a steep side to the outside river bank. The bank may overhang. There may be pieces of sediment in the river. Where a river bank overhangs, it is possible to put a hand or foot underneath the hanging part.

On the inside bend of a meander, the water is flowing more slowly as it has less distance to travel. There is normally deposition on the inside bend. This is because the sediment is too heavy for the river to carry. Some inside bends of meanders can look like beaches. Sand and mud are deposited there.

Over time, there is more and more erosion on the meander. The shape of the meander changes from an S-shape to a loop. Oxbow lakes can often form from these loops.

Ox Bow Lakes

When meander bends become giant loops, there is a thin piece of land left between the beginning and the end of the meander. This is the meander neck.

As the river neck becomes very narrow, the river can break through. For a short time, water flows both round the meander (which is now called a backwater) and across the meander neck.

Eventually the river cuts off the backwater completely and flows across what used to be the meander neck. For a short time, an oxbow lake is left behind. It is called an oxbow lake because it is shaped like the old fashioned 'U' shaped yoke that was once used to hitch an ox to a plough. The oxbow lake lasts until it becomes overgrown with weeds and filled in with soil. This happens quite quickly as it is cut off from the main river and therefore doesn't get any water.

Geology of the Area:
The rock here at the Crook o Lune is a mixture of Carboniferous limestone and glacial till deposits. Glacial till is a conglomeration (a mixture) of fine particles ground down by the sheer weight and pressure of a glacier as it moves over the land. The glacial till is carried far and wide by the glacier and forms many landforms which can be seen by finding other earthcaches around the area.


Glacial Till

In order to claim this earthcache please carry out the following tasks:

1) Estimate the width of the river at the given coordinates

2) visit the location at N 54 04.399W 2 43.956 look at the opposite side of the river which is the head of the meander. Describe how the water interacts with the banks of the river in comparison to how it reacts at the side upon which you are stood.

3)Visit N 54 04.590W 2 44.098 and estimate the width of the river here.

Pictures are encouraged with your logs to enrich your experience however these are optional.

Please email your answers to me through my geocaching profile. Any logs without answers emailed may be deleted.

Please feel free to log the find first before sending the email as I may not be able to confirm straight away,

Hope you enjoy this earthcache.