One Step to Heaven | 一步登天 EarthCache

English

"One Step to Heaven" is hidden in the surreal landscape of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan Province, China. Recognized in 1982 as China’s first national forest park and later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1992), this area is famed for its towering pillars—like the one you will climb—cloaked in lush vegetation. These formations inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar.

Tasks:

1. Geology: What type of rock are these pillars formed of?

2. Mineralogy: Which kind of mineral is this rock primarily composed of? Which compound gives it its reddish color? (Hint: Iron-related!)

3. Formation: Which geological process shaped these pillars?

4. Ecology: Name one tree or shrub at the summit and explain why it thrives here

5. Upload a photo of yourself (or GPS, trackable,...) at the pillar and be aware of spoilers.

Answers for this cache should be sent through the Geocaching Message Center.

Source: Zhangjiajie Geopark official website, Unesco World Heritage Centre

Chinese Translation (中文翻译):

"一步登天"藏身于中国湖南省张家界国家森林公园的奇幻景观中。作为中国首个国家森林公园（1982年认定）和联合国教科文组织世界遗产（1992年列入），这里以高耸的石柱闻名 - 就像你即将攀登的这座 - 石柱上覆盖着茂密的植被。这些独特的地貌启发了詹姆斯·卡梅隆电影《阿凡达》中的悬浮"哈利路亚山。

任务:

1. 地质：这些石柱由哪种岩石构成？

2. 矿物：这种岩石主要由哪种矿物组成？是什么化合物使它呈现红色？（提示：与铁有关！）

3. 形成：是哪种地质作用塑造了这些石柱？

4. 生态：请说出山顶上的一种树木或灌木，并解释它为何能在此生长。

5. 上传一张你本人（或GPS设备、可追踪物品等）在石柱旁的照片，请注意避免剧透。

本藏宝点的答案请通过Geocaching信息中心发送。

资料来源：张家界地质公园官方网站，联合国教科文组织世界遗产中心