Sea Caves at La Jolla EarthCache
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Sea Caves at La Jolla Earthcache
IMPORTANT: This Earthcache is accessible via the Cave Store. Please see website (www.cavestore.com) for latest admission fees and hours - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (7 days a week). Alternatively, for the more ambitious, you can choose to kayak to the location - there are several kayak tour companies in the vicinity!
Sea Caves.
Sea caves are also known as littoral caves. They are formed by the action of waves pounding against the land and removing material over time. The primary process involved is erosion. The weaker zones of the land are eroded over time leading to cave formation. Sea caves are found throughout the world, actively forming along present coastlines and as relict sea caves on former coastlines. Sea caves are relatively small, with only a few over 300 meters in length. Because this type of cave is generally found facing the open sea, just getting to them can be an adventure in itself!
La Jolla Sea Caves.
There are seven sea caves in La Jolla carved within the 75-million-year-old sandstone sea cliff. This sea cliff is commonly referred to as the 'Seven Caves of La Jolla'. These seven sculpted cave openings face north and are located between the beach of La Jolla Shores and the sandy beach of La Jolla Cove. The seven sea caves are named as follows, from west to east: The Clam’s Cave, Sunny Jim’s Cave, Arch Cave, Sea Surprise, Shopping Cart, Little Sister, and White Lady.
The La Jolla Sea Caves are only accessible by kayak, except Sunny Jim's Cave. Sunny Jim’s cave is the only La Jolla cave that is accessible by land via a hand-dug tunnel (1902) leading down from the historical landmark, the Cave Store. This 200,000 year old cave was given this name "Sunny Jim" by Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz. Mr. Baum gave the cave this unique name due to the shape of the cave's opening. Looking outward from the inside of the cave opening resembles a cartoon mascot for British Force Wheat Cereal in the 1920's. The profile of this cereal character matched that of the cave opening.
The posted coordinates will bring you to the entrance of the Cave Store. From here you will have to carefully descend 145 steps into Sunny Jim's Cave.
In order to log this Earthcache, you must email team wiji (see profile for email) the answers to the following questions:
1. What is the primary process involved in the formation of these sea caves?
2. While inside Sunny Jim's Cave:
(i) Describe the interior of the sea cave with respect to color, roughness of rock surfaces, and size.
(ii) Estimate the height of the sea cave from the platform you are standing on.
(iii) Do you think the cave is getting larger or smaller? Why?
3. OPTIONAL - Take a photo of your GPSr or yourself/team from within the cave with the opening in the background. You may include this photo in your log.
++ Congratulations to bon scott on the FTF!! ++
Congrats to Indigo Parrish for being first to complete via kayak!
Congrats to Rockbobster for being first to complete by swimming!
Additional Hints
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