Sugar Lake (One of Pa's 50 glacial lakes) EarthCache
Sugar Lake (One of Pa's 50 glacial lakes)
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Sugar Lake is a glacial lake, formed 17,000-22,000 years ago during the Wisconsinan glaciation, It is a moraine-dammed lake within the outer margin of the Kent end moraine complex, which marks the maximum extent of Wisconsin glaciation in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
The Wisconsin glacial advance began about 70,000 years ago, reaching its maximum extent 18,000 years ago, before receding. Although there were numerous Ice Ages throughout the last few million years, the Wisconsin glaciation is what is usually being referred to when people say "Ice Age," because it is the most recent. It sculpted many modern geological features (particularly in the Northern hemisphere), and affected human evolution and culture the most.
Because of successive glaciations, it is sometimes difficult to determine exactly which Ice Age had an effect on which geological feature, but thorough investigation has largely been able to piece it together. There are numerous valleys in North America, Europe, and Asia known to have been shaped by glaciation. These often feature large exposed areas of granite, sliced and ground by the immense pressure of ancient glaciers.
Surgar Lake is located in Wayne Township, in South Central Crawford County. The lake is accessible from Routes PA 27 and PA 173.
The surface area of the lake is 90 acres with a surface elevation of 1288 feet and a maximum depth of 15 feet. The watershed covers 23.3 square miles with the major tributary being Lake Creek, which flows through the Erie National Wildlife Refuge’s Southern Sugar Lake Division. Lake Creek also drains the lake and joins with Sugar Creek at the borough of Cooperstown in Venango County. The property surrounding the lake is largely in private ownership and large tracts of wetlands still occur. Some riparian areas have been developed as home sites. The wetland areas adjacent to the lake are home to nesting bald eagles.
Although privately owned, Sugar Lake has a PA Fish & Boat Commission public access and is managed under Conservation Regulations, which govern fish harvest. There is a maximum horsepower restriction, or electric motor only, limitation for boats on the lake. There are populations of both warm water and cool water fish species in the lake, with largemouth bass being the primary warm water predator, and the muskellunge the primary cool water predator. Sugar Lake is used as a brood lake for muskellunge by the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
There is a Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission owned boat launch with limited parking for about 12 vehicles with trailers located on the western shore. Shore fishing access is severely restricted by wetlands and private residences. The lake is currently restricted to motors of 6 horsepower or less or electric motors.
The requirements for this Earthcache. Email me the answers to the following: To aid you in answering some of the questions you may want to take a string with a weight on the end and a tape measure.
Go to the following cords: N 41.33.870 W 079. 56.738
This is the PA Fish & Boat Commission public access area. At this location if you look to your right you can see where Lake Creek exits the lake. Question 1. At these coordinates please tell me the approx depth of the water off the retaining wall.
Go to the following cords: N 41.33.579 W 079. 56.047 At this location you are looking at Lake Creek flowing out of the lake. Question 2. Please describe the creek flow at the present along with the weather conditions. (Dry, Sunny, Raining, Cloudy etc.) Please tell me the approx. width of the creek and the depth of the water at this location.
Go to the following cords: N 41.34.148 W 079. 56.565 At this location if you look to your right you are looking at the upper end of the lake. The wooded area and the wetlands are part of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge and are home to several types of ducks and geese. There are also nesting bald eagles there. Question 3. Please measure the distance from the edge of the road to the edge of the lake.
Optional: Cachers may also submit a photo of themselves and or their GPS Unit at the 1st location (PA Fish & Boat Commission public access area).
BEFORE logging this earthcache, all answers MUST BE EMAILED to the cache owner. Do not post any answers. You may post a note explaining that you have done the earthcache and that answers were emailed & awaiting conformation. Any “found it” logs prior to conformation will deleted & removed.
Additional Hints
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