Giant Kettles - Slottsskogen EarthCache
Giant Kettles - Slottsskogen
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A Geological Miniland in the Heart of Gothenburg.
Giant Kettles
The latest ice age, or glacial period, began about 110,000 years ago and lasted in Sweden until about 11,000 years ago. Rock scouring and scratching, glacial moraines, drumlins, valley cutting, glacial sediments, sedimentary rocks and erratic boulders are some of the geological traces left from the massive forces of the thick and heavy ice. Another such trace are giant kettles which are cavities or holes which appear to have been drilled in the surrounding rocks by currents of water bearing stones, gravel and other wearing matter. If you look at a giant kettle you can often see scratch marks as a result of this process.
In Sweden and other places, giant kettles have often been surrounded by folklore and tales about giants using the kettles to prepare their food.
Slottsskogen
In February 24, 1624 King Gustaf II Adolf gave away the castle forest to "the citizens of Gothenburg and their wives and children" for them to "amuse themselves in the summer". The forests here used to belong to the former Älfsborg Castle, a royal castle built in the fourteenth century that during the years have been in the possession of the Swedish as well as the Norwegian and Danish kings and queens.The green park is centrally located in Gothenburg and is the lung of the city. What is less known about the park are the geological sights that this cache will guide you to. In fact, the park is somewhat of an unknown geological miniland. At the given coordinates you will find the two giant kettles, or perhaps I should say mini kettles, because these kettles were formed at the later period of the ice age and didn't have time to develop into full scale giant kettles. Not far from the kettles you will find a beautiful view of Gothenburg.
Visit the Area
Although not required, I encourage you to also visit the surrounding area. I have provided you with some interesting geological places as waypoints.
First off is the memorial bust of August Kobb (1819-1901), the creator of Slottsskogen as it is today. What's interesting is that very few people realize the bust is actually situated on the wall off the remains of a giant kettle. Across the wall you can see deep scratches from when the kettle was created.
Next place of interest are the two erratic boulders close to the water tower of Slottsskogen. Such big stones were transported by the moving ice and where left when the ice melted. The larger boulder has about ten stone marks (Swe: skålgropar, älvkvarnar) and the smaller boulder has five. These man made stone marks are around two to eleven centimeters wide and have been found in Sweden, Norway and Germany, mostly originating from the bronze age, and were used for ritual purposes.
Our final stop is at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum. The exhibitions consists of biological, zoological and geological items. There are minerals, rocks and fossils, for instance from the Swedish polar expedition by the geologist Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld to Svalbard in 1873. There is also a very beautiful fossil of an Ichthyosaur (Swe: Fisködla) and a big dinosaur from China. In the museum shop you can find, among other things, pieces of minerals and fossils.
Logging Instructions
When you have visited this Earthcache you can log it right away. For you to keep your log you must also send me the answer to these questions:
Granite and gneiss are two of the most frequently occurring types of rocks in Sweden.
1. What minerals are there in granite?
2. What minerals are there in gneiss?
If you want to, I would be happy if you provide a photo of you at the given coordinates or at any of the additional waypoints.
Enjoy your caching!
/Mbit |
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Additional Hints
(No hints available.)