Meandering over to Mulberry Bend EarthCache
Meandering over to Mulberry Bend
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Welcome to Mulberry Bend scenic overlook!
This short trail leads to two overlooks that offer views of a natural, free-flowing segment of the Missouri River. Here, the river still meanders through the countryside much as it did in Lewis and Clark's day.
At the first overlook, exhibits provide information about the Missouri National Recreational River and early American Indians that inhabited the region.
At the uppermost overlook, exhibits interpret the river's hydrology, the surrounding forest, and a flood that devastated the town of Vermillion.
The paved trail rises 60 feet to the top and is wheelchair accessible to the first overlook.
At this overlook, you can observe evidence of a type of erosion called meandering.
Meandering occurs when flowing water erodes the outer banks of a river. Over long periods of time, this erosion causes bends in the river. This is how rivers get their 'snake like' appearance.
Below is a diagram of the meandering cycle:
As the erosion continues, the turn becomes wider and wider until it forms a 'U' shape and is eventually cut off. The cut off section eventually dries up, and the meandering process starts over again.
The now dried up section is called a meander scar.
Over time, many scars can accumulate around the river.
To get credit for this cache, please message me the answers to the following questions. The answers can be found on the kiosk entitled Sculpting the Landscape at the overlook.
1. How many miles does the Missouri float free below the Gavins Point Dam?
2. How many feet in elevation does the Missouri lose in one mile?
3. How many number points are shown on this kiosk?
4. Using your GPS, what is the approximate difference in elevation between the parking area and the top viewing area?
5. From the top viewing area, what evidence of meandering can you see?
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Rawbl gur ivrj!