Whetstone River EarthCache
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In order to count this Earthcache as a find, you must complete the following tasks and email the answer to me.
1. What is the elevation?
2. Estimate the width of the Whetstone River from this point.
3. Estimate the drop down the hill to the river.
4. Since the river is so small, how do you think this river valley was created?
5. What does the river do at this point in its course?
6. Describe what you see in the river just to the south of ground zero.
7. Describe the erosion taking place in this area. What is the cause for the erosion?
This Earthcache is located high up on a hill (also known as glacial debris) and provides a picturesque overlook of the Whetstone River. I am guessing few people know about this little gem of an area. Be sure to check out the old nearby stones and don’t forget the camera. Enjoy!
The Whetstone River is a tributary of the Minnesota River. In geological terms, a tributary is a stream or river that flows into the primary downstream segment of a river, which carries the water to the ocean. Since the Minnesota River is a tributary itself, one could technically say that makes the Whetstone River a tributary of a tributary. The Whetstone River meets up with the Minnesota River in Ortonville, Minnesota, just south of Big Stone Lake. Eventually, the water from the Whetstone River flows into the Mississippi River near the Twin Cities and then is carried to the Gulf of Mexico.
At about 35 miles in length, the majority of the Whetstone River is located in northeastern South Dakota. Only .25 miles of the river’s length lies in Minnesota, where it meets up with the Minnesota River. In South Dakota, the River serves as an intermittent stream in the Coteau des Prairies region. Intermittent just means that it does not have a steady, continuous flow. In some places, the river is flowing at full force and is very wide. In other places, the river may look like a small stream wide enough for a person to leap across. These irregularities can be seen when one traces the River’s course on a map.
Almost directly between Big Stone City and Milbank (both in South Dakota), the Whetstone River forks into two tributaries known as the North Fork and the South Fork. The North Fork flows northwestward and passes near Wilmot, while the South Fork flows westward and passes through the town of Milbank. Both branches of the Whetstone River work to drain the Coteau des Prairies area.
While the river itself is fascinating, what is most spectacular about this location is the erosion that can be seen along the river valley.
Erosion is the process by which the surface of the Earth gets worn down. Natural elements, such as wind and glacial ice, can both cause erosion. Water is one of nature’s most powerful elements and the most common agent of erosion, simply because there is so much of it on the Earth’s surface. Sometimes, as in the case of a mudslide or an avalanche, erosion happens quickly. In most cases, erosion happens so slowly that you can’t even see it. Over time, the simple act of water running downhill can carve out the landscape. Although erosion is a natural process, it has be increased dramatically by human land use, such as industrial agriculture, deforestation, and the growth of cities.
NOT A LOGGING REQUIREMENT: Feel free to post pictures of your group at the area or the area itself - I love looking at the pictures.
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