Green River? EarthCache
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The given coordinates will take you to a park on the south side of the Green River, just across the bridge from the John Jarvie Historic Site.
The Green River, like most rivers, can be many colors depending on the local geology, geography, and weather conditions. The water out of the Flaming Gorge Dam is clear and cold, owing to its origination from 180 feet below the surface of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The reservoir has acted as a sediment trap, causing the suspended solids to fall out of the water and onto the reservoir bottom.
However, the Green River doesn't always run clear. Almost immediately out of the dam the river begins to pick up colors due to the minerals and oxides which are present in the soils and rocks in the watershed: dark browns from rich bottomland topsoil, tans and light browns from mineral soils or sands, deep reds and bright oranges from hematite, chalky grays from clay deposits, and yes, even green from copper deposits. After a localized weather event, you can almost tell exactly where the rain fell due to the color of the river.
To receive credit for this Earthcache, you must do the following:
1) From the edge of the water, cup your hands and allow some of the water to flow through. What is the color and particle size of any residue which remains on your hands after you take them out of the water? What might have caused the color which you see?
Please consider posting photos of yourself, or the local geology, when you log this EarthCache. Photos can be an additional rewarding part of your journey, but posting them is not a requirement for logging this EarthCache, and is strictly optional.
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