Josephine Falls are in the Wooroonooran National Park within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. The falls are known by the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people as Chooreechillum. Josephine Falls are a tiered cascade waterfall on the southern face of Mount Bartle Frere, the highest peak in Queensland at 1,615m. The falls descend from the Atherton Tableland at an elevation of 192 metres above sea level over a large rock to form a natural waterslide on Josephine Creek.
The sign to the falls is clearly signposted in the parking area and is a 700m walk uphill to the viewing platform. The trail is paved and is suitable for people of all ages.
GEOLOGY
As you watch the endless tumbling water of Josephine Falls you are seeing erosion in action. Erosion is the wearing away of the Earth's surface by the breakdown and removal of bits of rock and soil. The deep plunge pools that form at the base of waterfalls are mostly the result of falling water pounding away at the rocks below.
Rain on the summit of Mt Bartle Frere can cause Josephine Creek to flood suddenly and without warning. These flash floods speed up the processes of erosion.
Soil parent materials in the upland areas of the National Park include a range of granites, metamorphics and minor basalt flows. During the last volcanic period lava poured down the river valleys from the Atherton Tableland. Granite massifs* intruded into the surrounding layers of metamorphic rock of the Hodgkinson Formation. The lowland country is more complex where alluvial fans** may overlie riverine alluvian made up of a deep layer of course sands, heavy clays and peat.
*A massif is a section of the Planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole.
**An alluvial fan is a triangle shaped deposit of gravel, sand and silt and is usually created as flowing water interacts with mountains, hills or the steep walls of canyons.
TO LOG THIS EARTHCACHE YOU NEED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. CLICK ON 'MESSAGE THIS OWNER' AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO SEND YOUR ANSWERS.
QUESTIONS
1. As well as moving water what 2 other things contribute to erosion here?
2. What physical evidence can you see of erosion?
3. What is the name of the massif that Josephine Falls cascades down?
4. Take a photo of the falls with your geocaching name visible in it. This can be in the form of clothing or simply written on paper, your hand, etc. Add the photo to your log.
Congratulations Hamuza - FTF