This EarthCache will take you to a nice scenic spot on the edge of the Chagrin River, accessible through the nice Bentleyville Community Park.
Before you proceed, please note a few things.
-There is no need to enter the water here. Please be concious of your safety. If the water level is too high today, come back another day.
-Please be respectful of the park and any park patrons. Please use the existing trails. Leave no trace.
-This cache is only available during park hours, and as such, it is unavailable after after dusk.
At this location, we will explore some of the forces of nature that shape the environment, in this case the river flow.
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What is erosion? Erosion is the process of solid rock, soil, or land being worn away by another force such as water or wind.
On a normal day, the height of the water in the Chagrin River at this location is pretty low. In fact it's normally low enough and clear enough you can see straight down to the bottom of the river bed. Over time the force of the water dragging across the rocks on the bottom of the riverbed has shaped and changed the rocks.
As the rocks have been eroded, the material removed from the rocks has been transported and deposited elsewhere along the shore. You may even be standing in one of these spots. This process is called deposition (previously eroded material is added to a landform, normally transported by the force that caused the initial erosion).
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In order to log this EarthCache, you will need to do a few simple tasks:
1. Describe the texture and shape of the large rocks visible on the riverbed.
2. Describe the deposited material on the riverbank at the posted coordinates. Explain what you observed to lead you to believe this material was deposited here.
3. Take a photo of yourself or a personal item at the posted coordinates with the bridge in the background. (Please be sure to avoid showing any of the EarthCache features in your photos)