KINUSEO FALLS
EARTHCACHE
Located in Monkman Provincial Park to the south
of the community of Tumbler Ridge, BC, Kinuseo Falls is a 60m high
cascade waterfall on the Murray River that flows over a geological
fault. A fault is an area of separation or discontinuity in the
crust of the Earth and most earthquakes occur on fault lines or in
fault zones.
The fault is clearly visible in the cliff face
opposite the viewing platform as a series of folds in the rock
layers that resembles the whorl pattern in a
fingerprint.
The structure of this waterfall differs
significantly from Canada’s most famous waterfall, Niagara
Falls. The difference is primarily the result of the layering of
rock in the river’s bed. Niagara Falls has several layers of
compressed limestone on top of layers of shale and sandstone. The
underlying shale and sandstone erodes more easily and quickly than
the hard limestone cap and as a result, the cap is undercut and
breaks away in great chunks and the falls maintain a very vertical
aspect.
The bed of the Murray River at Kinuseo Falls is
composed of many layers of hard, compressed limestone that
experiences more erosion pressure from the water at the top of the
falls and tends to break away in relatively small blocks. The
eventual result of this layering and erosion is that Kinuseo Falls
will eventually (millennia from now) become a set of rapids as the
top of the falls recedes faster than the bottom.
There are many trails and adventures to be
found in the park and I encourage anyone making the trek to this
cache to explore the area if you have the time, but please avoid
any activity that will damage the environs. I also recommend that
any cachers take a look for the traditional cache near the upper
viewing area because it offers a great perspective on the
falls.
It should be noted that the road to Kinuseo
Falls travels through the site of the Quintet Coal Mine and is
gravel for the last 50 or so kilometres. The road gets
progressively worse as it approaches the falls and I would
recommend the use of a 4 wheel drive vehicle for the
clearance.
In order to log this cache, you must email me
the answers to the following questions:
- What intermediary stage will Kinuseo Falls
experience between its current state as a free falling cataract and
it’s ultimate destiny as a set of rapids and what aspect of
the geology causes this transition?
- Immediately across from the viewpoint, you
can see the fault in the rock face. How many folds can you see in
the rock face that are greater than 90 degrees?
- (Optional) Please also post a picture of
yourself with your GPS at the site as it helps to encourage us to
set more caches when we see the enjoyment we bring to
others.
To get to the falls, drive south from Tumbler
Ridge and turn right at the Quintette Coal Mine following the signs
leading to Monkman Provincial Park and once you are close, your GPS
will provide you with the final details. Note that there is a
camping area within about 3km of the falls.
P.S. Please also take the time to read the
plaque located near the parking area, dedicated to a man who was
instrumental in developing this spot and who was lost defending the
freedom of others.