Spruce Hole EarthCache
Hidden : 4/3/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:





About two miles west of the Durham town center is a small, almost oval-shaped, pond known as Spruce Hole. This geological landform is called a kettle and was created by glacial melt-water. Formed in many parts of the world, the kettles shown in the satellite image to the right are in Siberia.





Specifically, kettles are formed when chunks of ice fall, known as calving, from the front of receding glaciers and are partially or completely buried by the sediment carried by meltwater. This process of sediment deposited by streams of glacial meltwater is called glacial outwash. The outwash forms plains called sandurs. Kettles are the end results of these broken pieces of glaciers as they melt and pool in hollows.






Based on current scientific theory, Spruce Hole was created during the last glaciation period, the Wisconsin glaciation, lasting between about 110,000 and 10,000 years ago. The Laurentide Ice Sheet began to retreat about 20,000 years ago, creating kettles in New England. As seen in the illustration to the left, the ice sheet extended south of Long Island, nearly 200 miles south of Durham.



Below are the three types of kettles:

kettle lakes - fed by both surface and subterranean rivers or streams;

kettle ponds - receive water from water tables and precipitation; and

kettle bogs - consist of large amounts of decomposing plants and mosses creating acidic and usually brown-colored water. The decomposing material often floats atop and stretches out in all directions from the central water hole. Bogs are sans surface or underground water sources, such as streams, and are only refreshed by rain water.


To log this earthcache, please visit the site and submit your answers to the following questions:

1) Describe the materials seen on the surface surrounding the central water hole?

2) Based on your observations in question 1, which type of kettle is Spruce Hole?

OPTIONAL: Photographs of yourself or surroundings will be met with giddy earthcache-geek excitement.

Resources and credits:
Wikipedia
www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov
www.fettes.com/cairngorms

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