Queensborough is one of the five larger geographic areas which make up the City of New Westminster. Quee nsborough is 303 hectares (778 acres) in size and is located on the easternmost tip of Lulu Island, bounded by Annacis Channel and the North Arm of the Fraser River. It is located in the Fraser River floodplain. The area’s flat topography, fertile soils, high water table and distinct vegetation make Queensborough different from mainland New Westminster, with its bedrock geology and steep slopes.
Like Richmond Queensborough is located on a floodplain, an area of land adjacent to a stream or river which stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls, and which experiences flooding. In the case of Queensborough (and Richmond) the cities are protected from floods by a well maintained dyke systems and pump houses to clear excess water from waterways.
Fifteen thousand years ago Queensborough was covered by over 1.5km of glacial ice and as the ice melted the edge of the ocean was actually located in New Westminster. The melting waters carried sedimetns creating teh Fraser river and the 25km wide alluvial fan of the river delta, which included the swampy tip of Lulu island. Today this is Queensborough, a complex natural envionrment that is affected by 3-4 metere tidal fluctuations daily.
To log your find for this earth cache: Visit the posted coordinates where you will find an info board on the Geology of Queensborough that will be used to answer the following questions:
- What three distinct regions makeup the shoreline of Queensborough
- Over the past century how was the natural environment in Queensborough changed to support industrial, agricultural and residential development
- What evolving challenges threaten this community as they impact the geology of queensborough.
- Post a photo of yourself or a personal item at the looking point of the posted coordintes.