The area known a Caperton Swamp consists of 29 acres of beautiful scenery located off of River Road in Lousiville. Caperton Swamp is found in between Beargrass Creek and the Ohio River, but is it actually a swamp or is it actually a marsh?
Swamps, are wetland ecosystems characterized by mineral soils with poor drainage and by plant life dominated by trees. Swamps are found throughout the world, and are very common to the Louisville area in several parts of town including this area. They exist in areas with poor drainage and sufficient water supply to keep the ground waterlogged, and they have a high enough supply of minerals in the water to stimulate decay of organisms and prevent the accumulation of organic materials, creating an anaerobic environment. They are often found in regions of low relief associated with rivers that supply the water. Rivers in mature valleys frequently have extensive marshes and swamps along their sides. Floodplains elevated only a few feet above river level, abandoned river channels, and oxbows may have standing or sluggishly flowing water for appreciable parts of the year and thus support swamps and marshes.
Marshes are a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by poorly drained mineral soils and by plant life dominated by grasses. The latter characteristic distinguishes a marsh from a swamp, whose plant life is dominated by trees. Marshes are common at the mouths of rivers, especially where extensive deltas have been built. The river brings a steady supply of water. The gradient of the river approaches zero at the sea, where flow is sluggish. Because the delta is deposited by sediment settling from the river water, the land that is built will be poorly drained at its driest and will often be underwater. Sediment supplied by the river has often been eroded from the surface soils of the drainage basin and is thus very rich. The combination of water supplied steadily at a low rate over a waterlogged but rich soil creates a perfect environment for marsh grasses.
In order to log this Earth cache, please email me the answers to the following questions.
1. Do you think Caperton Swamp is ACTUALLY a swamp or a marsh?
2. Please explain what distinguishes this area as a swamp or a marsh.
3. Do you see evidence of poor drainage here?
4. (optional) take a photo of yourself at the GZ with the area in the background.