Devil's Punchbowl ~ The Art of Erosion EarthCache
Devil's Punchbowl ~ The Art of Erosion
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Location: Along the Niagara Escarpment on Ridge Road, Stoney Creek
Open 7 days a week, from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted.
Parking: There is parking very close by for a flat rate (2023 - $8.00) The posted coordinates bring you to an area on a small path close to the parking lot where you can view the falls.
The Dofasco 2000 Trail starts here. For information on the trail:
https://conservationhamilton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Dofasco-Trail-Brochure.pdf
At the posted coordinates:
DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING AT THE SITE.
USE the garbage bins provided at the parking lot.
BEWARE of children and pets at all times due to the high cliffs.
CITO – Cache In & Trash Out and respect all plants and wildlife.
There is NO need to leave the path to view the falls and cliffs.
Thank you Hamilton Conservation Authority for permission to place this Earthcache.
For more information: http://conservationhamilton.ca/
Geocaching Rules: "An EarthCache is a special geological location people can visit to learn about a unique feature of the Earth. EarthCache pages include a set of educational notes along with coordinates. Visitors to EarthCaches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage its resources and how scientists gather evidence. Typically, to log an EarthCache, you will have to provide answers to questions by observing the geological location. For more information about EarthCaches visit http://www.earthcache.org/."
To Log a Smiley for this Earthcache, please send your answers to the following questions to the Cache Owner’s profile listed at the top of this page. Please Do Not include your answers in your online log.
QUESTIONS
~ The purpose of this earthcache is to learn about Erosion. Please read the cache page. ~
Carefully examine the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls and the walls of the pool and bowl.
Look up, down and all around the inside FROM the path above.
1) a) Describe TWO pieces of evidence you can see here demonstrating that erosion has happened over time.
1 b) Which type of erosion does each piece of evidence fall under: gravity, wind, water or ice.
2) a) Describe the evidence you can see here that is one cause of erosion to the rocks and land, OTHER THAN the water flowing over the falls.
2 b) Explain how this erosion happens.
3) In your own words describe how this circular shaped punchbowl formation has formed.
4) Explain, IN TERMS OF EROSION, why you think there is not a deep undercut cave at the bottom of the rock wall?
5) Estimate the Diameter - an imaginary straight line passing from side to side passing through the centre of the plunge pool area.
The Devil’s Punchbowl is a 33.8-metre high waterfall, offering views of the many different rock layers from the Ordovician and Silurian period. Some of the layers include Queenston Formation red shale, Cabot Head grey shale, and limestone and shale dolomite. Without the process of erosion we would not be witness to these beautiful coloured rocks.
Erosion
Weathering is the wearing and breakdown of land into smaller pieces. The result is the molding of rocks and soil. Erosion is the movement of these pieces by weathering. This movement can be caused by gravity, wind, water or ice. This continuing process can take a short amount of time to erode soft small bits of earth or many years to carve canyons and valleys inside mountain areas. Denudation is the term given to breaking down and weathering the land.
Water Erosion
Physical Water Erosion occurs when flowing water has enough force by speed to break off, pickup and move soil and rock fragments.
Sediments and fragments can be smaller particles (microscopic silt, pebbles) or even boulders and sometimes dissolved material.
Water abrasion (wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction) causes worn smaller particles to be removed and transported to new locations leaving the exposed rock undercut. The faster the water flow the faster the erosion process happens carrying more sediment over a shorter period of time.
The powerful force of water flowing over a waterfall erodes the rock at the base of the falls, cutting into its rock foundation. Sometimes this action abrades the basin into a depression called a plunge pool, a plunge basin or a waterfall lake. This powerful force can also erode off the lip at the brink of the falls, decreasing its overall height.
If suspended sediments in the water have not settled to the bottom of the waterbed, these sediments will grind and erode the land even faster when moving water rubs against it. This swirling repeated action will cut soft rock faster than harder rock. A basin shape will result and could also undercut the rock walls forming depressions and caves.
All of this action eventually changes the landscape.
Those who send answers will receive a bonus.
Congratulations to carnigrewal for FTF.
Photos of you in the area are always nice to see and add to the interest of the geocache page. Please consider adding some of your own.
Favourite: If you like this Earthcache, please consider giving it a favourite point so others will know you enjoyed the experience. Thanks a bunch for visiting. We hope you enjoyed learning about erosion.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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