Portage River - Cut Bank
*** Not accessible by land. You will need a boat or wade to GZ ***
The posted coordinates will take you to a "Cutbank" along the Portage River in Ohio. This Earth Cache is ONLY accessible via the water at the posted coordinates. You will NEED a floatation device or you will need to wade and river walk to get to the coordinates.
The word "Erosion" is derived from the Latin "erosio", meaning "to gnaw away". In general terms soil erosion implies the physical removal of topsoil by various agents including rain, water flowing over and through the soil profile, wind, ice or gravitational pull.
Erosion is a natural geological process in which the breakdown of rocks under sea and on land occurs due to natural forces. Erosion is a complex and highly important natural phenomenon.
It is due to erosion that the earth has shaped itself over the years. Not only is this phenomenon responsible for the formation of mountains, valleys and canyons, it has also played a part in determining the course of the human civilization. Easter Island is an example of this.
Erosion can be caused due to various natural components. Based on their cause there are the following types of erosion:
1. Erosion due to water
2. Erosion due to wind
3. Erosion due to gravity
4. Erosion due to soil
5. Erosion due to glaciers
WATER EROSION - from rain or another source exposes water-sensitive areas which can decay, or the force of very hard droplets which can also erode hard sedimentary surfaces. As water builds up run off picks up soil exposing roots and rock underneath which can lead to destabilization.
WIND EROSION - Excessive amounts of of wind can cause top soil or sand to be blown away and expose other soils and rock underneath.
GRAVITY EROSION - Mass movement of soil occurs on steep slopes under the influence of gravity. The process involves the transfer of slope forming materials from higher grounds due to its own weight.
SOIL EROSION - A result of gravity pushing down on soil that may rest on hills, as well as water, wind and glacial melting, which can cause soil to wash away and tree roots to be exposed.
EROSION DUE to GLACIERS - Snow and ice will melt causing water to run down hills and mountains - this water has the tendency to cause stream-ways and ditches.
A Cut Bank, like the one you see here, is an erosional feature of streams and rivers. Cut Banks are found in abundance along mature or meandering rivers and are located on the outside of a river bend, known as a meander. They are shaped much like a small cliff, and are formed by the erosion of soil as the stream collides with the river bank. As opposed to a point bar which is an area of deposition, a cut bank is an area of erosion. Typically, cut banks are vertical and often expose the roots of nearby plant life, which actually can help to prevent excessive erosion. During periods of high rainfall and higher-than average water levels, trees and poorly placed buildings can fall into the river due to mass wasting events. Not only can cut banks be steep and unstable, but like you may see here, they can also be the area of a river where the water is flowing the fastest. This is known as an area of high-energy, where material eroded here is deposited downstream.
The flow of water here, like the old rule of water "takes the path of least resistance", and tends to erode soil and forgives major erosion from the river bed, or bedrock which is limestone and dolomite along this river.
Questions:
To log this cache, attach required photo(s) to your log entry and email or geocache message me, the answers to the following questions:
1. While at the posted coordinates, what type or types of major erosion do you see?
2. What proof of the type or types of the erosion do you see?
3. Do you think that this type or types of erosion at this location can be stopped?
4. Do you see evidence of bank instability on either side of the river?
5. Measure or estimate the height of the Cut Bank?
6. Take a photo of yourself or personal item with the river and cutback in the background. (REQUIRED) Post it with your found it log.
Thanks for visiting my Earthcache!