The posted coordinates will bring you to a beautiful view of the Lower Ozark Valley Bluffs along the Courtois River. In order to get credit for this earth cache, email me the answers to the questions at the bottom of the page. You will find some of the answers on the cache page and some of the answers at the posted coordinates and the additional waypoint: N 38° 01.309 W 091° 12.233.
The lower Ozark valley is an area typified by what is called Karst Topography. Karst topography is a geological formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite. Many karst regions display distinctive surface features including caves, springs, sinkholes and the beautiful bluffs seen at this location.
Erosion plays an essential role in Karst regions both above and below the earth’s surface. The cliffs here were formed as water worked through the area eroding dirt and other materials to expose the rock bluffs we see along the river. Below the surface, water has been at work as well. Over long periods of time, rain and river water moved through the limestone and dolomite dissolving the soluble rocks to form underground passages. Water filled passage ways we call springs and formerly water-filled ones we call caves.
Over 300 caves have been identified within the boundaries of Ozark National Scenic River ways. These caves range from small rock overhangs to one cave with almost seven miles of identified passages. If you are interested to explore other Karst formations in the area please visit The Devil's Wishing Well and The Cave Spring on the Current River.
This CR (Courtois River) series was developed for the adventurous floating geocacher in all of us. The Courtois River, pronounced locally, Coort-a-way, is an Ozark clearwater gem just 90 minutes from the St. Louis area. It is quite safe at normal levels and the area is abundant with canoe, kayak and raft liveries. If you have your own watercraft there are several shuttle services for your vehicle for a very reasonable cost. The series starts just below the Butts Road low-water bridge and ends 6.1 miles downstream at Scotia Bridge where Highway E crosses the Huzzah River. The Riverfront Times cited the Courtois as the best local float. The cache owners have taken great care to make this a memorable series. Approximate float time with caching is about 5 hours. Black belt cachers could do it in 3.
In order to log this Earth Cache email me the answers to the following questions:
1) Approximately how high are the bluffs?
2) What is the name of the type of topography in this area and what material(s) are the bluffs made out of?
3) Head to the cave marked at the second waypoint (N 38° 01.309 W 091° 12.233). Approximately how high and how wide is the opening at this cave?
4) You will find a plaque at this location. Why is this cave no longer open for visitation?
Optional logging requirement: post a photo from the posted coordinates or the cave at the second waypoint.