Dzoraget Canyon EarthCache

The Dzoraget (Armenian: Ձորագետ) is a river in the Debeda hydrological region in the Lori region in Northern Armenia. It originates in the Bazum Mountains and flows west to east through spectacular gorges around Stepanavan. It finally feeds into the Debed river near Dzoragyugh, which ultimately drains to the Kura river. Dzoraget is a compound word in Armenian meaning Gorge-river and formed with the lexemes ձոր [dzɔɾ] ('gorge') and գետ [ɡetʰ] ('river') joined by the interfix ա [ɑ]. The gorge is at the coordinates about 200 meters deep.

But this is not only a beautiful region. It is also an interesting geological site.

Canyons

Most canyons were formed by a process of long-time erosion from a plateau or table-land level. The cliffs form because harder rock strata that are resistant to erosion and weathering remain exposed on the valley walls.

Canyons are much more common in arid than in wet areas because physical weathering has a more localized effect in arid zones. The wind and water from the river combine to erode and cut away less resistant materials such as shales. The freezing and expansion of water also serves to help form canyons. Water seeps into cracks between the rocks and freezes, pushing the rocks apart and eventually causing large chunks to break off the canyon walls, in a process known as frost wedging. Canyon walls are often formed of resistant sandstones or granite.

Sometimes large rivers run through canyons as the result of gradual geological uplift. These are called entrenched rivers, because they are unable to easily alter their course. In the United States, the Colorado River in the Southwest and the Snake River in the Northwest are two examples of tectonic uplift.

Canyons often form in areas of limestone rock. As limestone is soluble to a certain extent, cave systems form in the rock. When these collapse, a canyon is left, as in the Mendip Hills in Somerset and Yorkshire Dales in Yorkshire, England.

Your tasks to log this Earthcache:

1. Look around. Can you determine if it is limestone, sandstone or granite? Please describe your choice (internet research might be helpful)
2. Why are canyons more common in arid areas?
3. If you look down to the river, what kind of rock size can you see? Gravel or bg rocks?

It would be also great, but not necessary, if you could make a nice picture of the canyon!

You can immediately log the cache, but please send me also the answers to the questions to prove your visit and the educational lesson. I will contact you if there is something wrong.

1. Նայիր շուրջդ. Կարող եք որոշել, թե արդյոք դա կրաքար, ավազաքար կամ գրանիտ: Խնդրում ենք նկարագրել ձեր ընտրությունը (ինտերնետային հետազոտությունները կարող են օգտակար լինել)
2. Ինչու են կիրճերը ավելի տարածված արոտավայրերում:
3. Եթե ​​նայեք դեպի գետը, ինչ տեսակի ժայռի տեսարան եք տեսնում: Մանրախիճ կամ bg ժայռեր: Դա կլինի նաեւ մեծ, բայց ոչ անհրաժեշտ, եթե դուք կարող եք գեղեցիկ նկարել ձորը.