on/off EarthCache
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Located 4 miles east of Afton in the Salt River Range is the
largest of three natural springs in the world that naturally turn
on and off. Access to the spring is via the Swift Creek road and
requires a 3/4 mile hike by trail.
The Periodic Spring is North America's only cold-water geyser. It's
name is descriptive of the periodic flow, which during the summer,
fall, and winter shuts off every 12-20 minutes. During the runoff
months of May-July the spring may run constantly, and sometimes
even into August depending on the amount of spring rain in the
area.
No one knows for certain what makes the Periodic Spring start and
stop. One theory is that underground streams carry melting snow and
rain water to a lake deep in the Salt River Mountains.
When the lake level gets high enough, a natural siphon draws water
from the lake to the surface like a faucet being turned on and off.
The water then gushes out of a sheer ledge and cascades down a
wild, moss-covered ravine to join Swift Creek.
The flow continues until the water level in the lake drops below
the siphon’s intake level, allowing air to enter the siphon from
the lake cavern. The flow stops until the lake rises again and the
cycle repeats.
The water at Periodic Spring has given life to the land, the
wildlife, and the people of Star Valley. Historically, Native
Americans traveled great distances to cure their ills by bathing in
“the spring that breathes.” Since 1958, the spring’s water has been
piped to the City of Afton for it’s municipal water supply, and is
used for drinking, irrigation, and generating electricity.
In order to log this find, do the following:
1. Bring a watch and time the exact length of time the water flows
from when it starts to when it stops. Then time the exact amount of
time it is off before it turns on again. You can post these times
in your log or email them to me without them in the log. (If you
are there when it is flowing constantly, you get a pass on this
one.)
2. Post a picture of you at the spring in your log.
Don't forget to do these, I'd hate to delete your log if you forget
to fulfill these requirements.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
unir n qevax