CNC Oxbow EarthCache
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This EarthCache is located in the Chippewa Nature Center. The CNC
has 1,348 acres of woodlands, wetlands, rivers and upland fields.
There are more than 15 miles of marked trails open to walking,
cross-country skiing or showshoeing. The trails are free to the
public year round, dawn to dark. This EarthCache was developed with
permission from the CNC.
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide
meander from the mainstream of a river is cut off to create a lake.
This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved
shape that results from this process.
When a river reaches a low-lying plain it meanders widely. As the
river curves, it cuts and erodes into the outside of the curve and
deposits sediment on the inside of the curve. This is because the
river moves more rapidly on the outside of the curve and more
slowly on the inside of the curve. As the erosion and deposition
continues, the neck of land between the two curves becomes more and
more narrow. Eventually, either by erosion or flood, the narrow
neck of land is cut through. When this happens, a new straighter
river channel is created and an abandoned meander loop is formed.
Sediment is then deposited on the loop side of the river, cutting
off the loop from the river entirely. When the loop is completely
sealed off from the river, an oxbow lake is formed.
In January 1907, the Chippewa River experienced an extremely
destructive flood. The flood of 1907 had the additional power of
ice behind it, enabling it to take out countless trees along the
riverbank. Five years later, on May 23, 1912, after 72 hours of
rain, local rivers were rising to record levels. At this location
the high water overran the normally winding path of the river and
carved its way through the riverbank to create a new, relatively
straight, river channel. By 1920, the abandoned meander loop was
completely sealed off. This change in course left behind a U-shaped
oxbow pond.
To log this EarthCache:
1. At the posted coordinates, you should be standing over a
culvert connecting the two halves of the oxbow pond. Take a picture
of you and your GPSr with part of the oxbow pond in the background.
Post this picture with your online log.
2. Continue along the trail to the bench along the Chippewa River
(see waypoint). This bench is located on what was once the neck
between the two curves. If you walk a short distance to either side
of the bench, you can see where the banks of the river used to be.
This can be done without leaving the trail. Measure how wide the
neck was before the course of the river changed. Email the width to
me through my profile page.
Special thanks go to the Chippewa Nature Center for allowing this
EarthCache.
Congrats to Hiker Willie and mboensch for FTF.
| I have earned GSA's highest level: |
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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