Bosque Estatal Los Morrillos is a state administered forest reserve located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo. It is free to enter and to access the beach and cliffs. The Los Morillos lioghthouse is nearby, but there is no public access to it. There are no public facilities nearby. This is a two stage Earthcache, and you will need to visit both stages to claim your find. Visiting Stage 2 requires you to walk a trail at an incline, so wear comfortable shoes, bring water with you and take your time to observe your surroundings (especially if your physical fitness is as bad as mine!) Stage two of this Earthcache will take you past the lighthouse and a traditional geocache nearby. DO NOT get too close to the cliff's edge! A few years ago, a visitor fell to his death and is memorialized nearby. Please be respectful of your surroundings.
Cliff Formations:
In geography and geology, a cliff is a vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion (the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.) and weathering (to wear away or change the appearance or texture of something by long exposure to the air) that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually formed by rock that is resistant to erosion and weathering. Sedimentary rock most likely to form cliffs include sandstone, limestone, chalk, and dolomite. Igneous rocks such as granite and basalt also often form cliffs. The cliffs at Los Morillos State Forest are mostly composed of limestone.
An escarpment (or scarp) is a type of cliff, formed by the movement of a geologic fault, or a landslide.
Most cliffs have some form of scree slope (or talus) at their base. In arid areas or under high cliffs, these are generally exposed jumbles of fallen rock. In areas of higher moisture, a soil slope may obscure the talus. Many cliffs also feature tributary waterfalls or rock shelters. Sometimes a cliff peters out at the end of a ridge, with tea tables or other types of rock columns remaining. Coastal erosion may lead to the formation of sea cliffs along a receding coastline.
Common Types of Cliffs:
Chalk cliffs
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The most prominent chalk cliffs are located near Dover, along the English Channel in the United Kingdom, but you can find such cliffs in Colorado and Western Europe. A variety of limestone, chalk is a sedimentary rock. The coloring of this finely grained rock ranges from white to gray. It is made up of shells from tiny marine creatures such as coccoliths, rhabdoliths and foraminifera and crumbles fairly easily. But when large deposits of this rock are abnormally hard and weathered by wind or water, steep cliffs will form. More malleable deposits of chalk yield gently sloping cliffs. Since chalk is considered a soft rock, it is not uncommon for you to find large quantities of rubble that has broken off from the face the cliff at the base. Iron oxide deposits can give limestone a yellow color and make it harder, more erosion resistant than white or gray chalk.
Granite Cliffs
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Granite cliffs exist throughout the United States and the world. A common igneous rock found in the Earth's crust, granite forms when magma cools deep underground, and it contains large amounts of the minerals feldspar and quartz. Granite cliffs form when deposits of this rock are exposed to erosion by wind and water. Granite is a hard rock and therefore you will not find piles of fallen rock at the bases of their cliffs as you do with cliffs made of softer stone.
Basalt Cliffs
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Basalt is another igneous rock found near the Earth's crust but created when magma is cooled near the Earth's surface. Constructed mostly out of the minerals feldspar and pyroxene, basalt is a very hard, finely grained rock with a dark coloring. It forms steep cliffs when worn down by wind and water, and like granite, you are not likely to find piles of fallen rock at its base. Basalt cliffs can be found in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.
To claim this Earthcache:
Send me your answers BEFORE logging the find.
You must email the answers to the following questions to the CO:
1. At the posted coordinates, observe the cliffs both to your left and to your right. In your opinion, and given the information above, what type of cliffs are these? Take an altitude reading with your GPSr at this location. You will need it later.
2. What natural process or processes created these cliffs?
3. Follow the nearby trail and start making your way to Stage 2. As you make your way up the cliff, pick up a yellow rock near the base of the cliff at the start of your ascent (there's plenty nearby). Observe its composition. Does it crumble easily? In your own words, tell me why it does or doesn't. Do you see any fossils in the rock (optional)?
4. Proceed to the Stage 2 coordinates. DO NOT stand near the cliff's edge. Take an altitude reading at Stage 2 and substract the altitude reading from Stage 1. Given this information, what is the height of the cliff you are standing on?
5. Take a picture of yourself at your favorite spot in the area and include it with your log (optional).
**You need to submit your answers BEFORE claiming your find. I do delete armchair finds. If you cannot demonstrate you were at the GZ, via your answers or by attaching your optional picture at the GZ, your log will be deleted.
References:
Cliff - retrieved from Wikipedia.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/cliff/?ar_a=1
http://www.ehow.com/list_6826662_types-cliffs.html
