Mammoth Cave River Gauge, Mammoth Cave National Park
Posted by: 
Andy Too
N 37° 11.171 W 086° 05.998
16S E 579886 N 4115905
A most unusual place to find a river gauge.
Waymark Code: WM5HCE
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2009
Views: 25
Found 300+ feet below the surface in the River Cave section of Mammoth Cave, this gauge measures the level in the Styx and Echo Rivers. These are the main underground rivers that formed the Mammoth Cave system and empty into the Green River. As seen on the gauge, these rivers are 40+ feet below the River Cave, evidence of the continuing evolution of the Mammoth Cave system as the Green River continues its erosion into the Pennyroyal Plateau.
A good explanation of the features and evolution of the Karst topography can be found here:http://w3.salemstate.edu/~lhanson/gls110/GLS110_MammothCave.html
It is interesting to note that in at least two instances in historical times the water levels in the cave have exceeded the height of the gauge because of flooding of the Green River and the rangers point out the markers for the water height at these times during your tour of the cave.
RIVER GAUGE INFORMATION:
None on this particular gauge found.
ANY ADDITIONAL WAYPOINT: Not Listed
WEB LINK FOR RIVER GAUGE: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Log Waymark with coordinates and your images of the River Gauge.
"At least one picture must have the gauge plus you in the view".