What Is A Sandbar?
A sandbar is usually a long, narrow sandbank, especially at the mouth of a river. It is a submerged or or partly exposed ridge of sand before a dropoff in the water. Sandbanks are created by waves, pushing the sand in one area. Typically, sandbars are formed at mouths of rivers, flowing into lakes.
Is A Sandbar Erosion or Deposition?
A sandbar is created by waves deposisting sediment and sand along the shore or along a bank. Sandbars protect beaches from further erosion by causing waves to break further offshore, resulting in fewer eerosion.
How Can I Tell A Sandbar Is Here?
As you paddle, boat or swim up to the area, it is revealed that there is a sandbar. You can view the sandbar from a far distance away, and can see where the river channel is and where the sandbar drops off into the area. This sandbar is a popular location for tourists and those who live on the lake, because it gives a unique beach to swim at. The location is relitively flat, and quiet and you can tell where the sandbar drops off into the lake.
Questions:
Q1. How deep is the water along the flat surface of the sandbar? Do you believe that this location could eventually become less shallow and even more sandy?
Q2. Based on the vintage picture of marble point on the cache page, has marble point grown or decreased in size? Why do you believe that has occoured here?
Q3. Do you see any signs of erosion along the shoreline of the area, does it appear like a lot of erosion or a small amount of erosion? Do you think the sandbar protected the area from erosion or made it more likely to get erosion?
Q4. Walk, swim or paddle to the edge of the sandbar. If you are brave enough dive down, how deep is the dropoff? If you don't want to dive down, how many meters do you think the dropoff is?
Q5. Does the sand in the sandbar feel sandy or muddy. Why do you think that is?
Q6. How long and how wide do you estimate the Sandy Point Sandbar to be?
Optional Tasks:
Task One: Take photos of your experience in the sandy point sandbar
Task Two: Try to roll some sand up in to almost a sandball (snowball) shape. Does it work?
Task Three: Do you see any animals which are making the sandbar their home?
Task Four: Does the dropoff have a weird texture? Rub your foot on it, does it erode when you rub it?