Karsts and Slithers EarthCache
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Flat terrain makes for an easy hike on the interpretive trail.
Facilities have been developed to accommodate visitors.
The Narcisse Wildlife Managed Area (WMA) is well known for its
extremely high snake population.
But the main reason why so many snakes are present at this location
derives from the geology of the area.
The Narcisse WMA includes ridge-and-swale topography common to the
Interlake. This creates a mixture of elevations and in some areas
the soil gets noticeably thinner, and in places the porous
limestone bedrock is even exposed. Portions of the area were
formerly grazed, hayed and cultivated, but were proven to be
unsuitable.
Wherever limestone or other carbonate rocks are exposed to the
surface, chemical reactions with rain water can quickly dissolve
the rock and create caves and sinkholes. This is what is called
karst topography.
One of the main reason so many snakes are present in the area is
the presence of this karst topography which provides roomy chambers
for them to den together in.
The winters here can be pretty cold sometimes dipping below 30
degrees Celsius, but the caverns stay just above freezing keeping
the snakes alive.
Karst is defined as a landscape formed by solutions of carbonate,
creating limestone and dolomite bedrock. Common features of such
landscapes are caves, sinkholes, and underground streams. A large
proportion of the rainfall sinks immediately into the rocks and
runs in channels underground. The higher land is dry; few streams
flow upon its surface and even these may suddenly sink into the
ground and disappear.
The Southern Interlake is underlain by carbonate bedrock
(limestone, dolomitized limestone and dolostone) which has been
modified by recent glaciation. Glaciation shielded or sealed
bedrock from erosion by depositing thick layers of glacial debris.
In some cases, glaciation left open bedrock or thin layers of
debris permitting the development of karst both on the surface and
underground.
During the glacial recession, melt waters are deeply injected into
the karst aquifers, thus accelerating their formation.
Requirements
To log this EarthCache, you must email me the correct answers to
the following two questions.
Question 1
Name three geological features starting with the letter "C" you can
find in this area.
Question 2
(to find the answer for this question go to N50° 43.876 W097°
31.538)
What created this new sinkhole and in what year?
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fvtaf fnl nyy