Maritimes - Summer 2008

July 5 - 25, 2008

Day 12 - july 16
five islands, South Maitland Tidal Bore, gypsum, hayes cave & renfrew gold

Hayes Cave

At the Hayes Cave earthcache our fun already started when the trail led us to a brook crossing but we were absolutely amazed when we finally arrived at our destination. What a cool cave. Our only regret is that we didn't have better equipment along. We took turns peeking into the cave while the other one stayed with the kids and even Samantha had a peek with her helmet and her chicken flashlight. Unfortunately the flashlights were not powerful enough to really appreciate the cave and we couldn't really venture in too far. It was also sad to see so much graffitti, garbage and evidence of partying... can't be helpful to the bats and fish!

We'll have to come back sometime with proper equipment (if the cave entrance manages to hold out... we read in a study that the entrance at one time was as large as 12 metres squared... that's quite a difference from today!).

From the Hayes Cave Earthcache description:
"Just down Old Rock Road in the community of Latties Brook lies a small set of white gypsum cliffs along the Five Mile River. Therein lies Hayes Cave, a solutional cave sporting a 20 meters high and 40 meters wide underground space that's home to a subterranean pond and many bats. [...] The main chamber of Hayes Cave is estimated to be 20 meters high and 40 meters wide. Sink holes at the surface above the cave are part of the system and, with streams, are the main routes by which water, soil and organic material enter the cave.
[...]
Within this cave, the water has a high pH (7.8 in Unit 511), a 100% relative humidity, and a usually consistent temperature of 5 to 9 C.

Hayes Cave Formation

The most common process of cave formation is karstification, which is the dissolution of rocks by rainwater. Carbonic acid in solution in rainwater dissolves calcareous sedimentary rocks (gypsum, limestone), and over long periods of time, percolating water will cause the formation of cavities along paths of weakness in the rock. As these cavities increase in size, the erosional effect of flowing water becomes more important.

Small cavities develop into passages and caves eventually open up to the land surface. This allows for entry of soil, organic material and animals. With further solution and erosion, the cave system will eventually collapse, and the habitat will be destroyed.

Flora & Fauna

The lack of light prohibits the growth of green plants, but fungi are present on the soil and animal droppings. Hayes Cave's grotto has two species of fish, the Threespine Stickleback and the Northern Redbelly Dace. This cave is Nova Scotia's largest known hibernaculum, with approximately 9000 Little Brown Bats, with sightings of Keen's Bat and Eastern Pipistrelle. Porcupines also make the cave home."

Are you sure this is the way?