Punderson's Number One, Naturally!
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The state of Ohio has more than 2,000 lakes that are at least five acres in size, but did you know that only a small percentage of these lakes were created by nature? Opinions and numbers vary, but experts generally agree that only 100 or so of Ohio's lakes were formed naturally. The focus of this EarthCache will be a glacier-created kettle lake, formed when a large block of ice broke off the glacier, creating a depression which filled with meltwater. Punderson Lake, located in Punderson State Park in Newbury Township, in the south-central section of Geauga County, is the largest and deepest kettle lake in Ohio.
Ancient History
The Pleistocene epoch began about 1.8 million years ago and its climate was characterized by repeated glacial cycles where continental glaciers pushed to the 40th parallel in some places. It is estimated that, at maximum glacial extent, 30% of the Earth's surface was covered by ice. The last glacial period to affect the area now known as the Midwest United States was called the Wisconsin. The Wisconsinan glacier covered much of the upper portion of Ohio and finally receded about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, ending the Pleistocene epoch. It was during this time of glacial movement when many of Ohio's lakes were carved.
Glacial kettle lakes, also called pothole lakes, were created when a large chunk of ice broke free from the glacial mass. Fill surrounded the remnant chunk of glacier, and the ground level built up higher than the bottom of the ice chunk. The ice chunk then melted, leaving a pothole filled with water. In cases where these potholes are not water filled year-round, the formation is simply called a kettle or a pothole. Some glacial lakes have been lost over time to natural processes that transformed them into something quite different. In environments where there was not enough rainwater or water from other sources to sustain the level of the lake, the shallow depressions partially dried up to form remnant wetlands of various types, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. With enough time, nutrient rich wetlands may entirely fill with organic matter and dry up.
Perhaps Ohio's best known and best preserved inland glacial kettle lake is the beautiful Punderson Lake at Punderson State Park in Geauga County. While so many of Ohio's glacial lakes have disappeared over the past two centuries, filled in or drained as the state was settled, Punderson Lake has remained an open body of "natural" water. What ancient glaciers left behind, modern-day Ohioans can enjoy today for fishing, swimming, and boating.
Recent History of Punderson
In 1808 Lemuel Punderson became Newbury Township's first permanent settler. Punderson referred to the lake, which would eventually take his name, as the "Big Pond". He built his home near its shores and he also constructed a dam on the south side of the lake and used the out-flowing water to power a grist mill. It is important to note that the building of this dam most likely caused a reshaping of the shoreline as the water backed up behind it. The size of the lake may have been significantly affected. Unfortunately there are no records of the lake's original size or shape. Although nature created it, man has definitely altered it over the years.
The area surrounding Punderson Lake developed into a quiet resort providing a get-away from the bustling Cleveland setting nearby. This development was primarily brought about because of the C & E Interurban Railroad. The old railbed is now the access road to the campgrounds on the northeast edge of the lake. Summer cottages were built near the shores of the lake and a dance hall and small hotel, called the Wales Hotel, were also built along the eastern shore, at the southern end of what is now the campground. Lemuel Punderson's family eventually sold most of the land surrounding Punderson Lake, although they initially retained the water rights to the lake, which were necessary to regulate the water level to maintain their mills.
William B. Cleveland purchased the land in the early 1900's, and turned the property into a private hunting and fishing reserve called Lakefield Farm and Kennels. After Cleveland lost his business following World War I, his brother-in-law, Dr. E. Coppedge, financially rescued Lakefield Farm. The property was sold to Karl Long of Detroit in 1929, who began work on an English-Tudor manor house that would eventually become the Punderson Lodge. Long defaulted on his mortgage during the Great Depression, returning the property to the Coppedge and Cleveland families. Due to the continued economic drain, the families sold it to the State. In 1948 the ODNR Division of Wildlife purchased the land and lake for hunting and fishing. In 1951, the area was transferred to the Division of Parks and Recreation for development as a state park. The manor house was completely remodeled and opened to the public on November 15, 1956. Today the park entertains thousands of visitors each year, who enjoy its many trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, its campground, cabins, and lodge for overnight stays, and of course its beautiful natural lake which is number one!
Requirements to log this EarthCache
In order to log this EarthCache, you will be required to take a short walk along the Iroquois and Beach Trails which run along the southwestern section of Punderson Lake. Be sure to bring appropriate footwear as the Iroquois Trail can be a bit slippery and muddy at times. Along the way you will find informational posts where you will learn more about the lake and you can gather the information needed to complete the cache. You will also need to take a photo of yourself or your GPSr, so be sure to bring a camera!
Begin your hike at the posted coordinates which take you to the Iroquois Trailhead behind the Tudor-style lodge. There is a great view of the lake from behind the lodge building. Imagine how large a chunk of glacial ice must have been to create a lake of this size!
Follow the Iroquois Trail down the hill as it winds along the edge of the lake. The Iroquois trail where you will be hiking is a loop trail, so if any part of it near the lake side is inaccessible, you can still follow it in the other direction to get to the posts near the Beach Trail.
When you follow the path or take the large steps down to the bottom of the hill, you can enjoy a close up view of the lake by taking a stroll along the new boardwalk which stretches along the lake's edge. Here you will see evidence that parts of the lake are becoming swampy or similar to a marsh. This is a common occurrence for kettle lakes that were formed by glacial ice.
Look for the information you need as you make your way down the Iroquois Trail to the Beach Trail. There is now a single wooden post which can be found at the additional waypoint which contains most of the information you will need. When you have gathered all of the required information, stroll down to the 600 foot sandy beach area at N 41° 27.290 W 081°12.570. Here you will find another nice view of the lake.
1.) Email the answers to the following questions to me within a week of posting your log. Please do not post the answers in your log! Any cachers that have not provided the correct answers within a week of logging the cache may have their find logs deleted without notice.
a.) What is the size, in acres, of Punderson Lake? (Be sure to get your information from the Extra Nature Trail post as internet searches may give several different answers.)
b.) Punderson Lake was originally created by a large chunk of glacial ice, but what are the two main additional sources of water which currently feed the lake and help keep it from becoming a marsh, swamp, or bog? (See the info on the Extra Nature Trail Post and the cache page.)
c.) What is the maximum depth of Punderson Lake? (Extra Nature Trail Post)
2.) Take a photo of yourself or your GPSr at the beach coordinates listed above and post it with your log. Be sure to show the lake in the background.
Special thanks to Norman Swann and Punderson State Park for permitting the publication of this EarthCache!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Question a)] Rkgen Cbfg
[Question b)] Rkgen Cbfg naq hfr lbhe urnq (vg'f ba gur pnpur cntr)
[Question c)] Rkgen Cbfg lrg ntnva