Pipers Lagoon Tombolo EarthCache
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Most of the information needed to log this Earthcache can be found on the sign at the posted coordinates. Please remember to vote for this cache in the Blitz! (link is at bottom of page)
Welcome to Pipers Lagoon Park, a beautiful place for a walk, to watch the sunset, and to do some geocaching.
This earthcache will bring you on a short walk and teach you about the different land formation found in the area, there are many!
Geology:
Many types of landforms can be found at Pipers Lagoon, one of the the main ones being a tombolo. A tombolo is a narrow strip of land, sometimes called a "spit", connecting an island to the mainland. It is known as a deposition landform because of the way it was formed. The headland, as well as much of the area, is made of volcanic rock around 225 million years old. It was formed when lava was forced up from the bottom of the sea, rapidly cooled by the ocean water.
Years later, strong waves would wash up on to the beach south of the park picking up small pieces of sediment. Wave refraction (waves bend around the island) caused the small particles to build up, eventually creating a tombolo and lagoon.
Looking South from the end of the tombolo.
History of Pipers Lagoon:
Pipers Lagoon was originally know as Page's Lagoon, named after landowner Louis Page. Prior to his ownership, the surrounding area was a First Nations hunting ground.
An arrowhead found by one of our family members back in 2002.
In 1917, the Piper's family bought the property, planning on using it as a farm. That venture did not end up going very well, as many of the farm animals were being attacked by cougars from the surrounding hills. By the 1930's, multiple cabins had been built in the area to be used by the voyaging fisherman from in town. Back then, the Lagoon was quite the journey from downtown Nanaimo, so the cabins were used both as a resting place for the tired fisherman, as well as summer retreats during the warmer months. Many of these building still remain standing on Shack Island.
For a while in the 40's and 50's, a sawmill and whaling station also operated nearby, bringing more families to the area.
1962 was a notorious year at the Lagoon due to a gruesome double murder that happened at the end of the Place Rd. (a very interesting story about the murder can be found here
The Station Agent's Rifle )
More and more years passed, and eventually more and more houses were built. A paved parking lot was made at the end of Place road, and along with new gravel trails, Pipers Lagoon Park was born.
Biology:
Piper's Lagoon is home to many living creatures, both flora and fauna. Unfortunately, there are also some invasive species trying to take over the park.
In 2003, efforts were made to clear many of the invaders at to make room more native species such as the Nootka Rose, and Indian Plum.
Piper's is also a great place to view wildlife. You may catch a glimpse of a Bald Eagle or two (there is a nest in the park), or maybe even an elusive Humming Bird. Look towards the water and try to spot a seal, or an otter. If you're real lucky, you may even get to see a pod of Killer Whales pass by.
Logging Requirements:
Please email me the answers through the email link on my profile page.
1. Apart from a tombolo, name 3 different types of land formations that can be found at Pipers Lagoon.
2. a) On the east side of the tombolo, what do you notice is different about the beach surface at the North end(Waypoint "N"), compared to the south end(Waypoint "S").
b)What is the name of the process that causes this? (answer on sign, not mechanical erosion)
3. Name 3 differences you notice between the East (Salish Sea) side, and the West (Lagoon) side of the tombolo.
Optional:
4. If you see any, name any invasive species you see as you walk along the spit. (examples of invasive species can be found on the sign at Waypoint "ECO").
5.Post a picture of you or your group at the Lagoon.
Happy Earthcaching!
Sources:
Geoscape Nanaimo - www.nrcan.gc.ca
Tombolo- en.wikipedia.org
The Station Agents Rifle- (Good read) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dimcl/rifle.html
Pipers Lagoon Park - parksgo.ca
Special thanks to kiwibirdman for pointing this formation out to me a few years ago.
IN
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