Spring or waterhole?
Water is the source of life in the desert. The Giles Range, home to Kings Canyon and Kathleen Gorge, has a number of permanent water sources. Kathleen Springs is one of them.
The walk into the Kathleen Gorge is a paved return walk of around 2.4km. Along the way you’ll pass interpretive signs associated with Aboriginal and early settler history.
All signage in the region refers to this location as Kathleen Springs yet the interpretive sign at the end of the walk calls the location Kathleen Waterhole. So, is this permanent water point a spring or water hole?
Spring
A spring is a place where water naturally flows out of the ground. This comes from the German word 'springer,' which means 'to leap from the ground.' Springs are named for how they flow, and there are five main types.
One type of spring is a gravity spring. This is just what it sounds like - these form from the pull of gravity. The water gets pulled down through the ground until it reaches a layer it can't penetrate. Because it has nowhere else to go, it starts flowing horizontally until it reaches an opening and water comes out as a spring. These are usually found along hillsides and cliffs.
Next, there are artesian springs, which come from pressure in confined aquifers forcing the water to the surface. The pressure inside the confined aquifer (from being smooshed between those impermeable layers) is less than the pressure outside the aquifer, so the water moves in that direction. Any cracks or holes in the land will easily let the water escape.
The next type of spring is a seepage spring, which as you may have guessed, is groundwater seeping out at the surface. Seepage springs slowly let water out through loose soil or rock and are often found in land depressions or low in valleys.
The fourth type of spring is a tubular spring. These springs occur in underground cave systems, which resemble underground highways. These tubes, or channels, are made of limestone, and as water moves through this type of rock, it dissolves some of it away. Tubular springs are some of the largest springs on Earth, and the tubes themselves can be so small that you can't see them or large enough to walk through!
Finally, there are fissure springs. Fissures are just large cracks, so you can probably figure out that fissure springs occur along large cracks in the ground, like fault lines. Fissure springs are often used as a source of drinking water, and sometimes scientists go looking for fissure springs when they want to find a fault on Earth!
Water hole
A waterhole is a depression in the ground in which water can collect, or a more permanent pool in the bed of an ephemeral (defn. lasting for a very short time) river or creek. Water holes can contain water permanently or intermittently, appearing after heavy rains then slowly evaporating away.
Something to do on the walk to and from the viewing platform
To help in the completion this earthcache you will need to observe and note changes while walking to the viewing platform. Changes you might see along the way are in the vegetation; bird, animal and insects; soil moisture.
To claim this earth cache email or message me your answers to the following:
- List your water related observations made on the walk to the viewing platform and at given coordinates.
- Do you think the pooled water is a waterhole or a spring?
- How did your observations made on the walk lead to your answer for Q2?
- Take a picture of yourself or your gps unit at the viewing platform.
It is not necessary to wait for my reply before logging your find but not providing answers or providing the wrong answers may result in your log being deleted.
Safety note: there are limited facilities at the parking location (Kathleen Springs Carpark) and no facilities along the trail. Come prepared, particularly in summer, with a hat, sunblock and plenty of water. There is no mobile phone coverage in the area. The trail is sealed and suitable for wheel chairs.
Sources:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/springs-definition-formation-types.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterhole