NWG #5 Brachiopod Beach Traditional Cache
nor_we_guys: Time to give room for a better cache.
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This cache is located near a fossil rich beach on Malmøya.
For many years paleontologists had been keeping this area a secret because of its rich fossil beds. When the book “Geologisk fører for Oslo-traken” (Geological tours of the Oslo area) was published in 1977, it was seriously considered to leave out this area from its descriptions. Today the area is protected as a Nature Preserve. This means among other things that no rock hammers are allowed!
This cache is hidden close to a beach where brachiopod fossils can been relatively easily be found loose among the beach gravels. The cache also gives a good starting point for further exploration of this island.
What is a brachiopod fossil? Brachiopods are sort of like clams/oysters…except that they are symmetrical. That means that if you look down at a brachiopod, its left side is a mirror image of its right side. Clams and oysters are definitely not symmetrical. If you are looking for brachiopods, don’t be fooled by the fresh shells on the beach…these are not fossils. We have put a few brachiopods in with the log book so everyone can see and touch…please leave them there for the next cacher. Since they have been here for about 500 million years…they can stay a few more years at least.
This island holds many more fossil treasures…maybe more caches will pop up….?
If you drive here, parking is difficult especially during the summer. Two alternatives for parking are at the end of Sundveien at N59 51.980 E010 45.691 or at Solvik Camping N59 51.931 E010 45.216. If you park at Sundveien…try and find the little trail "Furuvikstien" to get you towards your goal. The satellite reception is not great in near the cache...so the coordinates may jump around a bit.
Initial cache contents:
Log book, pencil, sharpener…& brachiopods
Dinosaur eraser set
Regular eraser
Kids braclet
Bubbles
Rough Guide to the Internet book
Assorted Polish & Turkish coins & Chinese note
The contents of the cache are relatively kid friendly. We would appreciate thoughtful trading to keep it this way. Thanks!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n snyyra gerr, orarngu rireterra gerr oenapurf
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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