GC7JKT7 Blue Pool & Carriage Rock (Earthcache) in Eastern Cape, South Africa created by BoazRuthFields

GC7JKT7 ▼

A cache by BoazRuthFields Message this owner

Hidden : 1/1/2018

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Kenton on Sea Earth Cache
Welcome to Kenton on Sea one of the most Special and Beautiful places to us. Every moment shared here is a complete privilege. Trust you able to soak up and enjoy any bit of the beauty you can and that is the most important thing about all our caches.

This forms part of our Garden Route Earth Cache River Series and various of our other Garden Route Icon series.

The intended value of this particular Earth Cache is to firstly share some the magnificence and stunning tranquillity of the area and spot. Secondly to learn a bit about rivers and how different of their processes and elements work. Thirdly to grasp the importance of preserving an Eco system.

Below are aerial pictures of the Bushmans River Mouth and Upper region of the river:

Blue Pool
Plunge pools are formed by the natural force of falling water, such as at a waterfall or cascade on the coastline. Plunge pools are often very deep, generally related to the height of fall, the volume of water, the resistance of the rock below the pool and other factors. The impacting and swirling water, sometimes carrying rocks within it, abrades the riverbed or seabed into a basin, which often features rough and irregular sides. Plunge pools can remain long after the waterfall has ceased flow or the stream has been diverted or wave action has changed. The below picture is of Blue pool.

Plunge pools are fluvial features of erosion where softer or fractured rock has been eroded back to a knickpoint, water continues to bombard its base. Because this rock is often less resistant than overlying strata, the water from the higher elevation continues eroding downward until an equilibrium is reached. These can form similarly both coastal or rivers when the conditions are suited.

A somewhat similar bowl-shaped feature developed by flowing water, as opposed to falling water, is known as a scour hole. These occur both naturally and as a result of bridge building.

Rock formations
Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:

Sedimentary rocks are created by a variety of processes but usually involving deposition, grain by grain, layer by layer, in water or, in the case of terrestrial sediments, on land through the action of wind that later exposes them in their current form.
Metamorphic rocks are created by rocks that have been transformed into another kind of rock, usually by some combination of heat, pressure and chemical alteration.
Igneous rocks are created when molten rock cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. They may be either plutonic bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. (Although this is extremely rare to this area)

Stack or Sea stack
They are a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, formed by wave erosion. Stacks are formed over time by wind and water, processes of coastal geomorphology. The force of the water weakens cracks in the headland, causing them to later collapse, forming free-standing stacks and even a small island.

Stacks typically form in horizontally-bedded sedimentary or volcanic rocks, particularly on limestonecliffs. The medium hardness of these rocks means medium resistance to abrasive and attritive erosion. A more resistant layer may form a capstone. (Cliffs with weaker rock such as clay tend to slump and erode too quickly to form stacks, while harder rocks such as granite erode in different ways.)

Active and non active cliffs
"Active cliffs" are those on a coast that is still active, meaning that is being eroded and is receding. A "non active cliff", by contrast, is only reached by very high marine waves and is therefore subjected to very little change. A clear indication of a lack of activity at a non active cliff is a covering of vegetation that appears on the cliff as wave action against it subsides.

Wave-cut platforms
At the base of most cliffs along a rocky coast one finds a flat surface at about the mid-tide elevation. This is a benchlike feature called a wave-cut platform, or wave-cut bench. Such surfaces may measure from a few metres to hundreds of metres wide and extend to the base of the adjacent cliff. They are formed by wave action on the bedrock along the coast. Multiple platforms of this type along a given reach of coast indicate various positions of sea level.

Sea arches
Another spectacular type of erosional landform is the sea arch, which forms as the result of different rates of erosion typically due to the varied resistance of bedrock. These archways may have an arcuate or rectangular shape, with the opening extending below water level. The height of an arch can be up to tens of metres.

Factors and Forces
The landforms that develop and persist along the coast are the result of a combination of processes acting upon the sediments and rocks present in the coastal zone. The most prominent of these processes involves waves, back wash, regular currents, long shore currents and rip currents that are generated, along with tides. Other factors that significantly affect coastal morphology are climate and gravity.

Other factors and processes include Climate that is an extremely important factor in the development of coastal landforms and the physical weathering processes including gravity. Weathering processes are addressed in some of our other earth caches and so not in depth in this one. Other elements of climate also play a role including rainfall, temperature, and wind.

Ecology Stacks can provide important nesting locations for seabirds. The importance of animal life is covered in the other nearby earth cache. Although this specifically referring to sea birds they also form an integral part of the eco system.

Below are Three pictures at the waypoints which is Carriage rock. They are all different angels of the feature. A very special and amazing structure:

Kenton on Sea Questions

Please take a picture at your favourite spot anywhere along the coast either side of the Coordinates or along the river and upload in your Log. Please share a picture so everyone can enjoy the collection.

We have kindly provided all the answers for you in the listing. Please return the favour by sharing your answers in your words what your thoughts and understanding is and share some general knowledge through the way you answer and please do not to stress about submitting the answers. The aim of this earth cache is to enjoy and learn.

1 The listed coordinates are at Blue Pool. Describe the major shape of the rock wall.

2 Particularly focusing on the beach/pool side of the rock wall what action might have lead to this shape?

3 What do we call the Pool at Blue Pool?

4 For convenience sake you are not required to go to the waypoint that takes you to Carriage rock at S 33° 41.642' E 26° 40.181' but it is a highly recommended experience that is very close by. If you walk along the beach low tide is required alternatively walk along the path on the dune Ridge. Pictures of Carriage Rock have been included in the listing in the event you not able to get there.

What rock structure combination do you see at the waypoint coordinates known as "Carriage Rock"?

5 What reason do you think part of the rock eroded faster creating a hole in Carriage Rock at a different pace to the rest of the rock around the hole?

Thank you for sharing this area and cache with us. We trust that you enjoyed the Earth Cache and your experience here.

Please have a look at our caching series all along the Garden Route. They all share a closer experience of the river nature and the environment.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)