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Large Sand Pile of Oklahoma EarthCache

Hidden : 8/12/2015
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is to make you aware of the Sand Dunes in Oklahoma and how they came to be here and how they are moving.  Just take a short walk along the lighted side walk and answers some questions from both the write up and the sign boards along the way to get credit for this Earthcache. Send me a email with answers to get credit for this cache.


A prime example of Oklahoma 's diverse terrain, Little Sahara State Park boasts over 1,600 acres of sand dunes formed over 11,000 years ago, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet . Sand dunes, which are mounds or ridges of windblown sand, are common on the north side of most major rivers in northwestern Oklahoma . The vast dunes have formed over time from terrace deposits and well sorted quartz, remnants of prehistoric times when the Cimarron River flowed over the entire area. This makes for extremely fine quartz sand. In addition, some of the sand is blown from flood-plain deposits of the present river. Prevailing winds are from the south and southwest. Therefore, the wind blows, rolls, or pushes grains of sand up the gentle windward (south) slope, and the sand grains then are deposited on the steep lee (north) slope. In this way, sand dunes can migrate across the landscape and can encroach on fertile fields, roads, or even homes. Northeastward migration of these dunes has caused relocation of U.S. Highway 281 three times in the last seventy years, with each new road being built twenty-five to fifty yards east of the previous location. Little Sahara is a popular place to see well-developed, "active" dunes, that is, migrating dunes that are devoid of vegetation.

Question 1-  How many acres of the park consists of sand dunes?

Question #2.  What side of the river do the sand dunes form?

Question #3.  What is a razorback dune?

Question #4. What direction are the sand dunes migrating?

Question #5.  How many viewing binoculars are on the observation platform and what do they cost to operate?

This is NOT a requirement-  If you would like I would love to see pictures of you and the sand dunes or wild flowers if you happen to be there at the right time of the year.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)