White River Balds Natural Area
The White River Balds Natural Area is located in the Henning Conservation Area, which contains 1,534 acres of steep and rocky Ozarks hills and includes 362 acres of glades typical of the Ozarks, and has a one-half mile section of a natural Ozarks stream. These areas are managed to protect their special natural communities and are used for both scientific and educational purposes.
What is a Glade?
A glade, or a "bald" as it is locally known, is a special habitat -- open, rocky and usually very dry. Generally, glades occur on south and west facing slopes where the hot, dry conditions slow natural soil building processes. Soil is eroded by rain and wind faster than it can be naturally produced. This special part of Missouri has the geologic history necessary for a glade to form. The formation of the glades began as limestone bedrock was formed under shallow seas which were gradually uplifted. The rocks in this area are 250 - 450 million years old. Forces of nature including rain and melting snow created streams that eroded deeper and deeper into the limestone. The runoff helped shape the valleys with steep rock slopes. Frozen moisture fractured the limestone and created shallow depressions in the rock surface. Today its shallow soils and bare rock discourage the growth of trees, exposing the glades to climatic extremes year-round. Unusual plants and animals, adapted to these harsh conditions, live here and help make the glades unique. Because of the thin soil, glades are normally very dry, but they can become very wet in the spring. These seasonal changes in moisture bring changes both to the geology and in the plants and animals living in this area.
It is highly recommended that you read the information contained on several interpretive signs in the Henning parking area (see above coordinates for location) and listen to the Missouri Department of Conservation radio broadcast at AM 1630 on your car radio. It is now time to hike the 1.1 mile Glade Trail to make direct observations needed to complete the requirements for this Earthcache.
To complete this Earthcache, e-mail the answers to the following questions:
1-As you hike the Glade Trail go to Coordinates N36 39.700 W093 17.690 and describe the geologic formation found at this location in terms of color, shape, texture and length.
2-Your next stop on the Glade Trail brings you to the Boulder Bald and South Cox's Bald glade obsevation deck, Coordinates N36 39.781 W093 17.661. Observe and describe the ground that you walk on between the man made gravel trail and the observation deck. What is the size of this geological feature and describe its surface.
3-From the observation deck look directly north across the valley and describe the geological landscape features of the area approximately 1/4 mile away.
4-Looking east from the observation deck observe the glade below you and describe the ground surface geological features within 50 ft of the deck.