Detroit River Watershed EarthCache
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Detroit River Watershed Earthcache
IMPORTANT: This Earthcache is meant to be logged without physically touching the water. Do not wade, swim, or enter the Detroit River! There are dangerous currents present at all times!
Formation of a river.
The Detroit River is a connecting channel linking Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. The river channel was formed some 10,000-12,000 years ago during the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier. As the large sheet of ice melted and receded, it caused significant changes to the landscape. The Great Lakes and their adjoining rivers are the result of glacial scour and pooling of meltwater at the rim of the receding ice.
The Detroit River is 32 miles long, and is an international boundary between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The name comes from the French - 'Rivière du Détroit', which translates literally as River of the Strait. The Detroit River is one of the busiest waterways in the world.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, province, and national boundaries. We all live in a watershed and our actions have a direct impact on them.
The Detroit River watershed basin is approximately 700 square miles (1,813 km²). The main tributaries which carry water to the Detroit river are the River Rouge and Ecorse River in the Michigan, and the Little Creek and River Canard in Ontario.
Over 5 million people live in the Detroit River watershed. The Canadian portion of this watershed is largely agricultural (90 percent), the remaining area consisting of urban, residential and industrial lands located around Windsor in the northern reaches of the River. The U.S. portion of the watershed is only 30 percent agricultural, and the remainder is residential (30 percent), urban (30 percent), and industrial (10 percent).
In order to log this Earthcache, you must email team wiji (see profile for email) the answers to the following questions:
1. At the posted coordinates, you will be standing at an area of the shore which is made of a stone break-wall in the form of 'steps'. The water level is affected by how much water enters the Detroit River via the watershed. What is the distance from where you are standing to the water surface? (This can be estimated by counting the number of 'steps' visible before meeting the water.)
2. Observe the speed and direction of the river flow. Would you consider this a fast-moving or slow-moving river? Secondly, which direction (ie. North, South, East, or West) is the water flowing?
3. OPTIONAL - Take a photo of your GPSr or yourself/team with the Detroit River in the background. You may include this photo in your log.
++ Congratulations to appletard on the FTF!! ++
Additional Hints
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