This is a rather unique area that you're standing right now. It is on the edge of the driftless zone. Just about six miles to the west of here at Cannon Falls, the glaciers from the last ice age towered over the area. And just past the falls in town, what makes up the Cannon River Valley, is within the driftless area. The driftless area is a region that remained ice free during the last ice age, allowing the melt water, particularly the Cannon River and its tributaries in this case, to carve out very impressive landforms such as canyons and bluffs. The majority of the area west of Cannon Falls was involved with terminal moraines and glacial drift and till, and is not the driftless area.
Bounded by rolling hills, bluffs and farmland, the Cannon River and its tributaries enter the broad gorge below the Cannon Falls, where it is flanked by bluffs up to 300 feet high. The Cannon River is underlaid with a variety of sedementary rocks which is evident in the outcroppings of St. Peter Sandstone and the Prairie du Chien Group of dolomites and sandstone mixtures.
The broad gorge is consider the Zone of Discharge for the Cannon River Watershed, which has a drainage area of nearly one million acres. Before you now is one such Zone of Discharge, Trout Brook. The source of Trout Brook is two fold. First and foremost, Trout Brook follows the natural drainage pattern for the highlands above, draining rain and ground water down through the ravine. Secondly, at various points along its path as it meanders through the bottom of Miesville Ravine, natural springs seeping from the bluffs feed into Trout Brook, which incidentally helps keep the temperature at a nice cool temperature. Trout Brook is credited with being the great force that shaped Miesville Ravine.
To receive credit for this EarthCache, you'll need to perform the following tasks. Hopefully by doing so, you'll better understand the incredible forces that are at work that led to the formation of Miesville Ravine.
1. At Reference Waypoint TEMP1, take a temperature reading of the Trout Brook before it drains into the Cannon River.
2. At Reference Waypoint TEMP2, and without getting wet, take a temperature reading of the Cannon River.
These temperature readings will demonstrate that Trout Brook is in fact partly spring fed. The temperature differential between Trout Brook and the Cannon River will be significant, particularly during the summer months.
3. What is the Temperature Differential between your two readings (TEMP2 - TEMP1)?
4. Now proceed to Reference Waypoint BOTTOM. Take an elevation reading there.
5. Proceed to Reference Waypoint TOP. Take an elevation reading there.
6. What is the elevation difference between Reference Waypoints TOP and BOTTOM (TOP - BOTTOM)?
7. BONUS: It is NOT required to complete this earthcache but would be a bonus to me if you posted a picture of you and your geocaching crew at any point in your journey in Miesville Ravine. I would prefer that you posted a current picture, taken during your visit to collect the information above.
In order to log this EarthCache E-mail the answers to questions 1 through 6 above to me before, or shortly after, you log this EarthCache online.
This geocache registered with Dakota County Parks.