CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS EarthCache
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The Chocolate Mountains of California are located in both Imperial and Riverside Counties in the Colorado Desert of Southern California.
The Chocolate Mountains stretch more than 60 miles in a northwest to southeast direction, and are located east of the Salton Sea and south and west of the Chuckwalla Mountains and the Colorado River. To the northwest lie the Orocopia Mountains.
The Chocolate Mountains form the northeast boundary of the Salton Trough extending as a narrow range some 80 miles southeast from the Orocopia Mountains to the Colorado River valley. The mountains are located about 30 miles west of the Chocolate Mountains of Arizona, but the two ranges are not connected. The range reaches an elevation of 2,475 feet at Mount Barrow, and serves as a drainage divide for the Salton Watershed to the west.
The mountains receive very little rainfall in a normal year, typically 4-6 inches. The predominant natural plants are of the creosote bush and the mean annual temperature is about 60 °F to 75 °F.
The range is composed of Precambrian basement rocks and Orocopia Schist with Mesozoic granite intrusions.
The range was host to numerous small gold workings in the 19th century with one, the Mesquite Mine to the east, continuing to be active into the 20th century.
The Bradshaw Trail passed by the side of the mountains, the first "euroamerican" route to the Colorado River from Riverside, California
The mountain range is occupied by the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, an aerial and gunnery practice area used by the US Navy and Marines. A large part of the Chocolate Mountains lies within the gunnery range, and is closed to the public.
In order to claim this Earthcache, e-mail the following answers, no need to wait for an answer before claiming the cache, however if the answers are not correct your log will be deleted. Photo’s are not required but always a great “Indication that you were at the Earthcache”.
1. Describe three of the distinct rock and striation colors you see in the mountain formation.
2. Describe the direction of the mountains striations’.
3. Look around the area, facing the mountains there are some structures to your right what are they? If you don’t know what they are, describe them. Do not post photo of these structures.
4. Nice to know but not required, what is the elevation at ground zero.
Don’t forget to drop by the property owners cache GC1B31Y and nearby fish pond and visit “Come Feed the Fish”. They love bread and crackers. Your small children will love the experience.
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