This site has a rare geological formation for Indiana. This site is on top of what is called an esker. An esker is a special type of hill of sand and gravel. At this particular esker the land to the east of this esker is higher than the land to the west. How can this be determined by standing at the north end of site's boardwalk? To verify your logged visit email the owner of this cache the answer to this question. (the answer is not available online - logs not complying with this requirement must be removed)
Imagine being beneath a glacier and finding a stream flowing. That is what was believed to be happening here millions of years ago. This stream would be like today’s streams and have a stream bed of gravel and sand deposits carried by the flowing water. But unlike today’s streams the water would be contained not by gentle shorelines but by walls of ice. Between these walls of ice would be the stream bed that you are standing on. And just as in streams of today the water flowing in this stream would contain sand and gravel that would fall to the bottom of the stream. But as the tunnel of flowing water became restricted in size by the deposited sand and gravel the water flow would cut higher into the ice above it to keep the stream flowing. As it did this the deposits would continue to pile upon themselves as the stream flow would grow closer and closer to the top of the glacier. (it's like cutting a canyon through erosion but in reverse - the river goes up not down) All the time as the steam flow cut higher and higher into the glacier the stream bed grew deeper and deeper. Now imagine what would happen if the ice would have suddenly melted. The water source of the stream would disappear and the walls of ice that held the stream in would be gone. All that would be left would be a tall stream bed, the tall stream bed you are standing on!
This only happened under certain conditions. Most stream beds of this type would have been destroyed by the forward movement of the glacier itself. The power of the moving glacier could easily destroy boulders not to mention just a pile of sand and gravel like this stream bed. So how did it survive? It is believed that this stream bed was here when the glacier it was a part of slowed or began to retreat or melt. If this were the case the stream bed would remain in place where it was and the glacier would simply melt away around it, never disturbing the stream bed and leaving it standing high above the surrounding landside. It is unusual to find this in Indiana because when most glaciers started retreating in North America the front edges of them were much further south. In our area the glaciers had mostly passed through wiping most things flat in their wake, ie: our flat landscape in northeastern Indiana and Ohio. This site is an unusual occurrence for our area.
Please be mindful that this is a very unique place and the boardwalk was constructed to protect the area. Please stay on the boardwalk and do not venture off of it into the restricted areas. Thanks!
(special permission was obtained by the INDNR to place this containerless cache)