Mount Rouse is set in South Western Victoria just outside of Penshurst. The volcano dominates the local landscape and affords amazing views of the township, the Grampians and Macarthur windfarm. This earthcache however, focuses on an often overlooked crater. To complete this earthcache you will need to visit the Mount Rouse Crater and follow the walking path from the car park and information sign about a 100m walk down into the crater.
The Mount Rouse volcano is a composite volcano of basaltic lava and scoria. It was formed about 2 million years ago during the most recent phase of volcanic activity in the area. It is thought that Mount Rouse may have been one of the very first volcanoes to erupt in the South West district. The peak of the volcano is 367m above sea level and the towers about 100m above the local plains. The crater is described as a dry crater, however a small lake does exist at the bottom. The crater itself is lined predominantly with basalt however the outer edges of the volcano are mostly scoria. The lava from this volcano contributed to many of the stony rises formations that dot the district as the lava flowed from this location towards the sea some 60km away near Port Fairy.
For further reading on this volcano I do suggest you read the following write up about The Mount Rouse Volcano by Ken Grimes
To log this earthcache you must visit the following location and answer a few questions about the site. Please send through your answers via the message centre or by email through our profile page.
DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS IN YOU LOG. ANY LOG CONTAINING SPOILERS WILL BE DELETED
Viewing Spot near isolated cluster of 4 trees - S37 53.330 E142 18.202
- The rocks in this location can be described as having a vesicular texture. What do you think caused this texture to be present in these rocks in particular.
- Viewing from the trees, what compass bearing is the small volcanic lake.
- For bonus points describe the man made features held within the small volcanic lake. (PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO RISING AND FALLING WATER LEVELS THESE FEATURES MAY BE HIDDEN - IF IT IS HIDDEN HAVE A GUESS)
As always we do appreciate photos, however they are not compulsary.