Kennerdell Lookout EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The Allegheny Plateau The geographical region we are in here is called the Allegheny Plateau. This high plateau region of the eastern US stretches from the Mohawk Valley in New York State southward through parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. This plateau extends about 500 miles. The highest elevation on the plateau is 4860 feet above sea level in West Virginia. The lowest elevation on the plateau is about 1500 feet above sea level. Although these hills are often called the Allegheny Mountains or the Alleghenies, they are not true mountains. A plateau is a large highland area with fairly level land and geological layers (bedrock). This area was once a shallow inland sea. Over millions of years sediments were deposited on the sea floor. After millions of years of accumulation of these deposits, they eventually solidified and became rock. These types of rock are called sedimentary rock (ones formed from sediments laid down under water). Common sedimentary rocks of this region are sandstone, siltstone and shale. Later the sea bed rose in elevation to create the plateau. Over more millions of years the streams and rivers eroded into the plateau cutting numerous hollows and valleys into it. This is what is called a dissected plateau. True mountains are areas that rise above the surrounding area and are usually produced from pressure from large pieces of the earths’ crust when they push against one another. These pieces of earth’s crust are called tectonic plates. The pressures created by them pushing against one another are called compressional forces. These forces compress the land between the plates and force the rock to bend (fold), break (fault) and rise up. Mountains are therefore usually characterized by bedrock layers that are folded and slanted rather than fairly horizontal orientation of the rock layers of a plateau. Looking out over the area from the Kennerdell Lookout, take a good look at the surrounding hill tops. Notice that they are all roughly the same elevation. This is another typical characteristic of a plateau. And of course, while you are there, enjoy the view!!!
To get credit for this cache:
1. (OPTIONAL)If you can upload a photo of yourself or your gps at the overlook with the relatively level hilltops in the background.
2. You must email the answers to the following questions. Email me: a) the exact elevation (in feet above sea level) of the lookout and at the river by the Kennerdell bridge b) tell me what caused difference between the lookout elevation and the river below. Please do not put these figures in your log!
3. Describe what you see from the overlook and how it will look in a short hundred years.
Please Note: An EarthCache must have an educational task to be completed by the visitor. If the education task and the other requirements are not met, the log will have to be deleted.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)