A gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls located between hills or mountains. The term comes from the French word gorge, which means throat or neck. A gorge is often smaller than a canyon, although both words are used to describe deep, narrow valleys with a stream or river running along their bottom.
A number of natural forces form gorges. The most common is erosion due to streams or rivers. Streams carve through hard layers of rock, breaking down or eroding it. Sediment from the worn-away rock is then carried downstream. Over time, this erosion will form the steep walls of a gorge. The flooding of streams or rivers increases the speed and intensity of this erosion, creating deeper and wider gorges. The deep Talari Gorges in Mali, for instance, were formed by the Sngal River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean on the western coast of Africa.
Geologic uplift also forms gorges. Geologic uplift is the upward movement of the Earths surface. Geologic uplift is often associated with earthquakes and orogeny, the process of creating mountains. During geologic uplift, rock layers beneath the Earths surface bump against the surface layers. Softer layers of surface rock erode.
Erosion and geologic uplift often work together to create gorges. Parts of streams or rivers can be elevated, along with land, during the process of geologic uplift. As rivers or streams flow across this uplifted surface, waterfalls form. Over time, the power of the waterfall erodes the softer rock layers underneath, causing the original river bed to collapse and create a gorge. Macocha Gorge in the Jihomoravsk region of the Czech Republic was probably formed by the collapse of an underground cave that had been eroded by the Punkva River.
The movement and melting of glaciers can also produce gorges. Glaciers cut deep valleys into the Earths surface. These rivers of ice can create huge canyons and sharp, steep gorges. As glaciers melt, or retreat, these gorges and canyons are exposed. The Columbia River Gorge, located in the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon, was partially created by glacial retreat during the last Ice Age.
Many geological discoveries have been made at gorges because gorges often expose layers of rock that go back thousands of years. Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania has layers dating as far back as 2 million years. The Olduvai Gorge is famous for the fossils and ancient tools found there by scientists Louis, Mary, and Richard Leakey. These remains of ancient animals and plants provide clues about early humans.
Located about 20 miles south west of Grayson, in Elliott County, Laurel Gorge is one of the best kept secrets in the state of Kentucky. Featuring 7 known wet weather falls including the towering 70 ft. Dog Falls, the gorge is also a wildlife and wild flower haven.
Laurel Creek and the Little Sandy River have, through time, carved their way through the sandstone and formed a gorge with cliffs as high as 300 feet. Laurel Creek runs thru much of the gorge before it runs into the Little Sandy River. The creek is a slow moving, winding waterway that is popular for float trips along the steep rock walls of the gorge.
The rock houses and overhangs along the gorge have provided dwelling places for thousands of years. Paleolithic Indians lived under rock shelters about 5,000 BC, later, Archaic and Woodland Indian civilizations made their camps in the gorge. In the 1700's Longhunters of European background who hunted and trapped this area collecting furs to sell in the Northeast, also used the natural shelters of the Gorge.
The listed coordinates bring you to a parking area with a beautiful view of the Gorge. Located here is also a piece of folkart that was created by a local artisan. The Rooster is semi famous in this area, due to the fact it was stolen a few years ago and a hunt for the rooster ended when one of the thieves told law enforcement officials where the rooster had been dropped. The rooster was recovered from nearby Grayson Lake by divers that brought it up from the bottom of the lake. The Rooster is back and welcomes folks to the Gorge area today.
In order to log this EarthCache as found, you must answer the questions to this 2 part EarthCache.
The first area is at the coordinates listed above. From this area please answer the following questions.
1. Looking north across the gorge, estimate the width of the gorge is in this area.
A. 500 feet B. 1000 feet C. 1500 feet D. 1800 feet.
2. Looking to the northwest of the gorge, what do you see across the gorge?
3. Take an elevation reading at this site. You will need to know the elevation here in order to complete part two.
This is not a requirement for the EarthCache, however, Written on the rooster, there are 3 statements written upon it’s tail feathers. It's worth a look. Enjoy!
For the second stage of this EarthCache you will need to drive North along Kentucky State Highway 7 about .5 mile to the Roadway that leads you down into the Gorge. You will see a sign that reads “Laurel Gorge Cultural Heritage Center. Follow this road along the cliffs, down into the gorge and across the old bridge to the Laurel Creek Carry In Access parking lot.
Coordinates for the parking area here are N 38 07.095 W 083 06.352.
This is the carry in ramp for kayaks and canoes at Laurel Creek.
Walk down the access ramp to the platform at water level.
1. Take an elevation reading here. Subtract your reading here from the reading taken at stage one. How deep is the gorge at this site?
2. Laurel creek flows slowly by here. How wide is the creek at this location? A. 50 feet B. 100 feet C. 150 feet.
3. From this location, what is almost directly overhead?
4. Based on your observations at both sites what do you think was the primary force at work in the creation of Laurel Gorge?
A. Erosion due to a stream or river
B. Geologic Uplift
C. Movement and melting of glaciers
In order to claim this find you must email your answers to Abe and Sarah. Please don’t include your answers in your log. Logs containing the answers will be deleted.
Photos are not a requirement to find this cache, however, this area is a photographers dream come true, we would love for you to share some of your photos here.
We gathered the information for this EarthCache using materials found on the internet, books, brochures, the Laurel Gorge Cultural Heritage Center, and from our own observations at the cache sites.
We hope you enjoy this EarthCache, and take the time to explore this beautiful area. You will find a very nice hiking trail at the center that will take you past some of the waterfalls and rock houses of the gorge. The trail at the center is partly handicap accessible.
As always, Leave no trace, and CITO as you go.
Congratulations to Wintz50 and Cash on the FTF.