Missouri's Little Grand Canyon EarthCache
Missouri's Little Grand Canyon
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The given coordinates will take you to the parking lot for Grand
Gulf State Park. Please take the time to walk around and
utilize the trails, boardwalks, and overlooks. Most of all, take
the time to enjoy the outdoors and this unique geological feature.
Karst
geology (landscape features resulting from mildly acidic water
acting to dissolve more soluble types of rock such as limestone or
dolomite) is very common throughout the Ozarks
region, especially in southern Missouri. One obvious feature of
karst geology that reflects this fact is the presence of numerous
cave systems throughout this area.
The Grand Gulf, sometimes referred to as “Missouri’s
Little Grand Canyon”, was formed as a result of a cave system
with a roof that partially collapsed an estimated 10,000 years ago.
This collapse created a chasm that is nearly a mile long, with
walls almost 130 feet high. A portion of the cave’s roof did
not collapse and what remains is one of the largest natural bridges
in the state. This feature spans over 200 feet with an opening 75
feet high and 50 feet wide. Brussell Branch stream now flows
through the canyon, under the natural bridge, and into the Grand
Gulf Sink portion of the collapsed cave system before disappearing
underground at the lower end of the chasm. After a heavy rain, the
Grand Gulf Sink will fill with water, sometimes taking as long as
several weeks to drain.
To claim this earthcache find, please
email me the answers to the following 3 questions:
- What, in your own words, is stream piracy and how does it
relate to the Grand Gulf?
- What is the relationship between the Grand Gulf and Mammoth
Spring, 9 miles away?
- While looking at the Grand Gulf Sink, estimate how high (in
feet) you think water might fill this basin after a heavy rain. Do
you see any evidence to support your estimate?
- Finally, I want you to post with your log a picture of
yourself, your group, and/or your GPSr at the overlook of the Grand
Gulf Sink. Any additional pictures are also welcome.
Thanks for visiting “Missouri’s Little Grand
Canyon”. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and that this has
been a learning experience for you. While here, please be sure to
practice cache-in-trash-out. If you see anything that might be
detrimental to the uniqueness and well-being of this location,
please remove it to an appropriate location.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)