Welcome to the The Red Rock Earthcache
The Red Rock lookout is situated 11kms off the Princess Highway, near Colac.
Red Rock is a major volcanic site made up of several large marr craters, some of which are intermittently filled by lakes. A marr is a broad, low-relief volcanic crater that is caused by a phreatomagmatic eruption, which is an explosion caused by groundwater coming into contact with hot lava or magma. A maar characteristically fills with water to form a relatively shallow crater lake.
Maars are shallow, flat-floored craters that scientists interpret as having formed above Diatremes as a result of a violent expansion of magmatic gas or steam; deep erosion of a maar presumably would expose a diatreme. Maars range in size from 60 to 8,000 meters across and from 10 to 200 metres deep, and most are commonly filled with water to form natural lakes. Most maars have low rims composed of a mixture of loose fragments of volcanic rocks and rocks torn from the walls of the diatreme.
Red Rock is located at the eastern edge of the Kanawinka Global Geopark, Australia's first Global Geopark, which stretches across western Victoria into southeastern South Australia. Volcanic activity in this area occurred between 4.6 million years ago and as recently as 4,500 years at Mount Gambier in South Australia. The massive volcanic activity which created the formations at Red Rock is believed to taken place between 6,000 and 12,000 years ago. Spectacular views from the two lookouts on the cones, across the area’s craters, cones, lakes and flat farmlands. To the southeast is Lake Colac with Colac clearly visible at its southern end, and to the northeast is Lake Beeac. To the northwest the volcanic peaks of Mount Porndon, Mount Sugarloaf and Mount Elephant are visible, and these and other landmarks are marked on a dial at the lookout. To the west is the huge salt water expanse of Lake Conrangamite, regarded as Australia's largest permanent natural inland lake.
Questions to answer to log this Earth Cache
Q1 How many separate eruption points have been identified here?
Q2 The landscape around Red Rock was formed by many eruptions which may have taken how many years?
Q3 Red Rock is believed to be one of the most recent volcanic eruptions within Victoria. What date has been determined?
Q4 Once you reach half way up the stairs, in your own words what you see to your left? Eg; Boulders, pebbles, grass?
Once you complete the EarthCache requirements you can post your find without delay, as per the EarthCache guidelines. You will also need to verify your find by sending me a message and provide your answers to the questions. Thanks for visiting this Earth Cache. Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to attached photos to your log (optional).