The listed co-ordinates will take you near the entrance to Ezemvelo Nature Reserve. This earth cache entails the entire park.
A cache inspired by GC1MN5C by Ding Bat
See the damaging effects of erosion.
Erosion in this nature reserve is caused by rainwater run-off washing away sand and destroying roads. The edges of the washed-out holes eventually collapse, enlarging the holes. Subsequent rain showers repeat the process, causing small holes to grow and become dongas.
A general description on erosion:
Some from (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosion)
Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids usually by the agents of currents such as, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms.
Erosion is distinguished from weathering, which is the process of chemical or physical breakdown of the minerals in the rocks, although the two processes may happen concurrent.
Erosion is a noticeable intrinsic natural process but in many places it is increased by human land use. Poor land use practices include deforestation, overgrazing, unmanaged construction activity and roadbuilding. Land that is used to produce agricultural crops generally experiences a significant greater rate of erosion than that of land under natural vegetation. This is particularly true if tillage is used, which reduces vegetation cover on the surface of the soil and disturbs both soil structure and plant roots that would otherwise hold the soil in place. However, improved land use practices can limit erosion, using techniques such as terrace-building, conservation tillage practices, and tree planting.
A certain amount of erosion is natural and, in fact, healthy for the ecosystem. For example, gravels continuously move downstream in watercourses. Excessive erosion, however, does cause problems, such as receiving water sedimentation, ecosystem damage and outright loss of soil.
Great landscapes have been formed due to erosion. Two well-known examples of this would the Grand Canyon in America, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.
The opposite of erosion is 'deposition'.
Local knowledge.
In South Africa, the ditches caused by erosion is also known as "Dongas".
Dongas were used by both sides during the Boer wars, as defensive positions.
To log this cache, you need to complete the following tasks:
1) Take a waypoint at any location in the reserve where erosion is clearly visible, and briefly describe what you see there. Include the co-ordinates in your answer.
2) Take some measurements / estimates of the width of the donga, height of the erosion, describe the shape of the walls, etc.
3) What can be done to stop the erosion at his spot? Suggest some measures and briefly motivate why you think it will help.
4) Say something of the effects of erosion you’ve seen elsewhere (not in Ezemvelo)