The hill you are standing on is a glacial moraine which was formed as a result of the Wisconsin Ice Age. This occurred from 100,000 to 10,000 years ago when glaciers covered most of Minnesota. A glacier is like a giant conveyor belt system that continually carries new debris toward the front and sides of the glacier. This debris can range in size from silt-sized glacial flour to large boulders. As the glacier melts, it stalls for a time and the debris drops out, creating hills and ridges. These landforms are called moraines.
The large pile of debris that falls at the front edge of a glacier is called an End Moraine. Prairiewoods Environmental Learning Center is located on the edge of the end moraine of the Alexandria Moraine Complex formed at the front edge of the glacial advance of the Wadena Lobe. The entire Alexandria Moraine is 10 to 20 miles wide and 200 miles long!
To get credit for this earth cache, email to me the answers to the following questions:
- Why is this hill an End Moraine?
- Take an altitude reading at this spot.
- Take an altitude reading at the bottom of this hill.
- What is the height of the hill you are standing on?
- Optional- Take a photo of yourself at this spot.