HOT SPOT - COOLED DOWN EarthCache
Hidden : 11/21/2014
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


People who visit Undara NP are most likely keen on knowing more about volcanism in general and especially of this area.
Many thousands of years ago this area was very inhospitable due to ongoing volcanic activity. Depending on the way volcanoes erupted, mainly two different types were formed:
Shield volcanoes or
scoria cones.
A shield volcano resembles a protection shield. It is mainly built by liquid lava flowing out of an elevated spot. During the cooling down process it solidifies. Thus the slopes are moderate, in some cases not easy to recognize.
A scoria cone is what most people associate with a volcano. It has steep outer slopes and normally a distinctive crater in its middle. It is built by the ejection of hot red glowing lava rocks. They fly high up into the air. Falling down they build a circular wall which is becoming higher by time. A scoria cone is much more evident than a shield volcano.
Maybe not the easiest but for sure the most instructive way is to visit nearby Kalkani Crater. It is accessible from the parking. You can walk around the rim and indulge in various glimpses into the crater and the surrounding landscape shaped by volcanism.
It is also very interesting to compare different shapes and colours of lava rocks you encounter along your walk. They provide information about chemical contents, viscosity of the magma flow during eruptions etc.
Preferably you explore the crater in the early morning hours to escape the heat of the relentless shining ☼.
If you want to log this cache, please send the answers to the following questions to the cache owner. Permission will be given ASAP.
a) Looking SW from the listed coordinates you will perceive an apparent line within the vegetation in the middle ground of the view. How can you interpret this phenomenon?
b) You can see three volcanoes roughly North of Kalkani Crater. According to their shape you may be able to classify them. Maybe you can even find out their names from left to right and the approximate dates of their last eruptions.
c) Trusting the information given along your walk about the lava flow how long would it theoretically have taken to fill Sydney Harbour with lava?
Happy Hunting!

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