Sorting out the Dunes EarthCache
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A dune is a mound of sand formed by the wind, usually along the beach or in a desert. Dunes form when wind blows sand into a sheltered area behind an obstacle.Dunes grow as grains of sand accumulate. ... A dunes windward side is the side where the wind is blowing and pushing material up.
Sand dunes serve an important purpose by protecting inland areas from coastal water intrusion and wind .
They obsorb the impact and protect inland areas from high energy storms and act as a resilient barrier to the destructive forces of wind and waves
Dunes on the coast moved steadily inland ,blown by prevailing westerly winds.The dunes filled the valley bottoms and blocked the streams
www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/dune/
Te Ketekete wetland is only a few hundred years old .Further south on the Peninsular ,wetlands formed in hollows between dunes ,they are tens of thousands of years old .
Ground zero will bring you to a viewing area over looking a freshwater wetland and coastal dunes with information boards
Farmers who moved to this area did not want the sand dunes moving onto their animals pastures so they went about sorting out how to combat this .Their answer was to plant them with an outsider,Marram grass to stabilize them .The grasses spread like a weed in the dunes .The roots bind the sand ,but it spoils the dunes as a home for their native plants and animals .
Q1
How did the farmers combat the dunes encroaching on their pastures .Do you think it has been effective ?Please give reasons for your answer
Q2
How old are the dunes on the Te Ketekete wetland
Q3
From your observation of the dunes ,from which direction do you think the prevailing winds have come
To log this cache you must send answers to the questions listed below then ok to log
Information you will need can be obtained from the information boards at ground zero or from your observations at ground zero .
If needed I will get back in touch with you
Hope you find this earthcache a simple but informative cache
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