Point Pelee National Park is located at the southern end of the Pelee peninsula, in the western basin of Lake Erie about 55 km southeast of Windsor, Ontario. This relatively small park was established in 1918, and protects about 15 km² of beach, forest, savannah, and cattail marsh. Point Pelee lies within the western portion of the St. Lawrence Lowlands Landform Region. It has the distinction of being the most southerly point of mainland Canada.
The base of Point Pelee was carved out by the ice sheet of the Wisconsin glaciation about 15 000 years ago. Point Pelee, as we know it today, was gradually formed by lake currents and wind from 10 000 to 3 500 years ago. Its base is limestone bedrock with overlying layers of glacial till, silty clays and wind-blown sand. Historical sand deposition and lake level changes have created a ridge and trough network near the Visitor Centre area which is presently home to Point Pelee’s swamp forest. The beaches are constantly undergoing erosion and deposition to the point where shoreline shifting is common. Erosion remains a constant concern as the Tip has been shortened by over 4 km since the first surveys were conducted in the 1700's.
In order to understand the erosion process, these definitions are useful:
Erosion is defined as the process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves fragments of rock and soil. Sediment is defined as small, solid particles of material from rocks or organisms which are moved by water or wind, resulting in erosion or deposition. Deposition is the process by which sediment settles out of water or wind that is carrying it, and is deposited in a new location.
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline. It usually consists of loose particles which are composed of sand, gravel, and/or pebbles. Beaches form as waves deposit sand and other sediments and wind pushes these sediments inland, and in some cases, accompanying sand dunes. As a result, beaches are known as deposition landmasses. The process of deposition can be accelerated by storms and other severe weather, causing a beach to grow or shrink depending on which direction the sediment is moving in. This process can gradually cause a beach to "migrate" inland creating a dune. Conversley, the process can remove sand and deposit it back in the water where it can be washed away (erosion).
In order to log this earthcache, you must send the answers to the following questions to the cache owner:
From your own personal observations,
1) How many trees remain standing when you look due south from Ground Zero? 2) Describe the difference between the east and the west shore of the point. 3) In your opinion, what type of erosion or deposition is taking place at the point? 4) On which side of the point is erosion or deposition most prevalent? 5) What is the distance between the parking waypoint and Ground Zero?
Please feel free to post a picture of yourself at Ground Zero.
Sources: Parks Canada, Website: www.pc.gc.ca/pointpelee
This cache has been approved by Parks Canada. If you have any questions about this cache or about geocaching at Parks Canada, please contact geocache@pc.gc.ca.
Cache is placed and maintained by a member of:
