Ampitheatre Falls
A hidden gem located in Otways National Park that requires determination and good off track navigation skills. You'll need to be well prepared with tracks and nagivations preloaded, have plenty of water, snacks, a first aid kit, and dress for all seasons. Expect mud and possible rain.
Getting there
Whilst there is an offical track, this is unmarked and often faint. There is a steady trail of pink ribbons leading the whole way.
You will be walking a couple of K's on a closed 4x4 track, until turning right onto the track. At this waypoint there is two different tracks, ensure you are taking the correct one.
I have linked a GPX file which contains a full route to the falls. You can find this below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NC4eDxl4QKx3LQb5Tm43GUGXqNe4ZWp3/view?usp=sharing
To do these waterfalls in the full circuit, it will take anywhere from 5 - 7 hours.
The Earthcache
This earthcache will be different to my two others in the area, focusing on the effect water has on rock erosion, and rock erosion on water, specifically on the fall of the water and 'plunge pools'.
A waterfall is a place where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of drops in the course of a stream or river. The flow of water can alter the shape of the rocks, which in turn creates distinct types of falls. The formation is based on water travelling over rocks with different rates of erosion, in which the flow of water can alter the shape of the rock.
When there is a free flowing watercourse cutting into softer rock woith steady flow, where the waterfall lands creates a 'plunge pool', where the water gets deeper as the rock is eroded away. Sometimes the spinning debris of rock at the bottom of the pool can chip away at the bottom of the pool from the velocity of the water, creating an even deeper pool, based on the force and depth of the water that is falling.
Your task is to answer a few simple questions:
1. Go first to the Amphitheatre falls at the posted coordinates. Is there a plunge pool here? Tell me why this is, based on supplied information?
Go to the Amphitheatre cascades as per the marked waypoint.
2. Describe the difference in the top fall here and the lower cascading falls, and explain how the shape of the rock here has changed the velocity of the water.
3. Using the information provided above, explain why there is not plunge pool erosion on the cascades.
4. Take a photo of yourself, or of your team name at either the lower or upper falls.
Hope you enjoyed this EarthCache & please feel free to upload a photo too
Once you complete the Earthcache requirements you can post your find without delay, as per the guidelines. You will also need to verify your find by sending me an email providing answers to the questions. This can be through the message centre or via email linked in my profile.