Neck Point is a destination waterfront park for Nanaimo and the region. The park is recognized as an environmentally sensitive area and is well known in the community for its historic, scenic and natural features. Additional land was aquired in 2009 and the park now provides visitors with 36 acres of a waterfront setting to explore. Visitors will find rugged rock cliffs, with pebble bay beaches, and winding trails through Garry Oak groves. The park is aptly named for a gravel bar that connects the park to a rocky head of igneous rock out in the water; which really does resemble a long neck!
What is a tombolo?
A tombolo is a bar of sand or gravel that extends in a spit to an "anchor" island just offshore.
How Do Tombolos Form?
This deposition landform is created when waves approach the island and refract or bend around the island to the opposite side. The waves on both sides converge and carry sediment with it. Eventually enough is accumulated to create a land bridge to the island. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island.
It is best to visit Neck Point Park at lower tides to be able see the sandy isthmus and perhaps walk out to the island. At high tide the tombolo can be completely covered with water. You can check tides here -TIDES
Since this is an Earthcache, there is no physical cache. Please send the answers to the following questions to us by email not in your log. You may log the cache once the answers are sent. If there is a problem we will contact you.
1) Standing at GZ looking down on the tombolo, estimate the length of the tombolo. Is it high or low tide?
2) Are there differences between the sides of the tombolo? Sandy? Rocky? Which direction are the prevailant waves coming from?
3) At the referance sign, what is the toughest place on earth?
4) Post a picture of the tombolo or island while you were there
REFERENCES
https://www.nanaimo.ca/parks-search/parks/224-Neck-Point-Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombolo
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