Erosion in Coldwater Cave
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These images of Coldwater Cave show the impact of erosion.
- Image one: A passageway in the cave that has been eroded by running water. The dark coloring is due to oxidation of the rock due to the water.
- Image two: Another section of the cave where the walls have not been eroded as much and slope upwards at the top.
- Image three: A space in the cave where there has been minimal erosion and the slope of the ceiling is much more evident.
Winneshiek County
Iowa Core Standard
HS-ESS2-5
Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of fluids (i.e. wind and water) and their effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
Driving Question
- What caused the cave walls to be so smooth?
Probing Questions
- What do you notice about the walls?
Classroom Suggestions
Students could:
- Observe the images and determine reasons for how the space formed.
- Create a timeline showing the changing of the cave space from formation to its current state.
- Make predictions about how the space could change in the future.
- Plan and create a way to make their own cave system using clay, soil, or other materials.
Resources
- Iowa PBS | Exploring Iowa's Coldwater Cave, Winneshiek County, Iowa: A video from Iowa PBS exploring Coldwater Cave.
- National Geographic | Erosion: This article explains what erosion is and how it impacts Earth’s surface.
Contributors
Media courtesy of Dr. Josh Sebree, University of Northern Iowa.
Contributed by Bailey Bushman with support from the Coldwater Cave Project.
Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena Provided By
