Waterfalls, fossils, potholes, underground stream outlets, the nests of ravens and rare black swifts, unexpectedly lush plant life and the startling effects of frost action - these are just some of the wonders of Maligne Canyon that you might encounter. Swirling, churning water has worn the canyon, only two metres across at some points, to a depth of more than 50 metres. Maligne Canyon’s karst system is one the natural features that distinguishes Jasper from other mountain national parks. This outstanding work of nature, protected for every generation here in Jasper National Park, is also part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountains World Heritage Site.
Here is the progression of the creation of the Maligne Valley:
1) Layered rock was deposited 750 million to 350 million years ago: A layer of gritstone, slate and quartzite nine kilometers deep was covered by a 6.5 kilometer layer of limestone and shale. This was then submerged by a large inland sea.
2) Rock was bent, broken and thrust up into mountains 140 million to 45 million years ago: The layers of rock were bent and broken. The Maligne Valley began as a narrow, winding, V-shape valley within the newly formed Rocky Mountains.
3) Glaciers covered it all 250,000 years ago: The Maligne Valley, except for the highest mountain peaks, was buried under hundreds of meters of snow and ice. Sub-glacial water dissolved the soft limestone and carved underground drainage and caves. This was the beginning of the Maligne Canyon karst system.
Three-quarters of a billion years of mountain building and landscape sculpting produced the Maligne Valley. Repeated periods of glaciation over the last 2 million years was the main sculpture of the Canadian Rockies we know today.
But how was the canyon itself formed in the last few thousand years?
Well, no one really knows! What we do know is that the most recent period of glaciation and the one suspected of carving the Maligne Valley Karst, The Wisconsin, ended very recently in the Earth time line. The finishing touches on the valley were completed just 12,000 years ago at the end of the smaller Wisconsin Glaciation. A few theories exist to describe exactly how those finishing touches occurred on the valley. The first theory suggests that the waterfall cut its way back upstream. This is not likely because it would have happened after the Ice Age and there are glacial deposits in the canyon.
The second theory is that the canyon is an unroofed cave. During the Ice Age, glaciers could have scraped the top off a cave, revealing the gorge below. This is a good possibility because Maligne Canyon is cave-like in shape; water feeds into the canyon from caves; and a similar upstream canyon leads into a cave.
The final theory suggests that the canyon was formed by glacial meltwater. This theory suggests that the canyon was hollowed out by water that flowed under a glacier, carving the canyon out of the rock. This is possible because the canyon existed before the end of the Ice Age, and modern glaciers have streams that flow beneath the surface that have carved canyons in the rock.
Now that you know about the canyon, it's time to explore! Park at the recommended parking lot and proceed to the posted coordinates. You will have to visit the first three bridges and stop to gather information at two different signs along the way. Carefully read all of the questions before you begin so you will not need to backtrack! All required stops have waypoints.
To log this Earthcache you must answer the following (send answers via email):
1) What is the full GC code of this Earthcache?
2) How high above the canyon are you at Bridge 1? How about at Bridge 2? Bridge 3? (There is a plaque at the middle of each bridge!)
3) Use the "Liquid Sandpaper" sign near Bridge 3: List the 5 different types of erosion that have worked to form Maligne Canyon.
4) Use the "Rock, Roll and Erode" sign between Bridges 1 and 2: What is a chockstone?
5) Which of the three suggested possibilities for the formation of the canyon seems most likely to you? Briefly describe why.
6) OPTIONAL: In your online "found it" log post a picture of your GPSr at your favourite viewpoint along the Maligne Canyon trail!
This Earthcache was established with permission from Parks Canada.
Information sources: Parks Canada