A to Z Challenge: The K’s — Kickapoo, Karst, Kauai, Kinnickinnic

My submissions for the In Living Color Photography Challenge.

Kickapoo and Karst

When I worked as an environmental educator for a land trust, I had to organize and help lead tours of underground caverns in the southwest part of Wisconsin.

Apt for the letter K challenge, the caverns were named Kickapoo Caverns. The Kickapoo River runs through southwest Wisconsin within several miles of the caves. The Wisconsin River and the Mississippi River also exist within this region. Water is essential in the formation of karst landscapes.

Karst is a geological landscape that forms from dissolvable rock. The National Park System page defines it as,

“Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, and other characteristic features. Karst is associated with soluble rock types such as limestone, marble, and gypsum.”

The caves at Kickapoo Caverns are primarily limestone and include an underground pool, stalagmites, and stalactites, as well as serve the region as a bat hibernaculum for three species of bats that are threatened in Wisconsin.

Organizing and helping to lead the tours of Kickapoo Caverns and learning about karst was a highlight of my time as an environmental educator with the land trust. Bats are essential pollinators and their habitats, including those that form from karst, are incredibly important to their survival.y

The Caverns are protected by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy. They are only open on occasion for conservation-associated tours run by the Conservancy.

For more about Karst and how it forms you can check the following:

Kauai

When I think of K and photography, I think of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. It is naturally photogenic and very beautiful. We visited the island in 2013 — ten years ago next month. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since we visited “The Garden Isle.”

While on Kauai, we visited some beautiful beaches in several places on the island, including these two on the Napali Coast.

Sunsets were stunning each night.

Kauai also is known as being one of the wettest places on earth — with a rainforest existing in the middle of the island.

Kauai also boasts Waimea Canyon, a deep canyon that reminds one of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is a sight you do not want to miss when visiting Kauai.

Unfortunately, Kalalau Lookout was shrouded in fog when we visited.

There is a lot to see on Kauai! I would recommend a visit to this tropical paradise.

Finally, one of Wisconsin’s State Parks was on our list this spring.

Kinnickinnic

There is a river, a town, and a state park with this unusual name. I love saying, Kinnickinnic! Located in the northern-west central area of our state where the St. Croix River meets the Kinnickinnic River, the park has an abundance of trails and a scenic overlook. It also has a Class 1 trout stream.

The area is also known for its diversity of bird species and the use of the rivers as a migratory flyway. We will be returning to this park!

For more challenge responses, check this collage of E’s by Dr. Preeti Singh.

And, here’s one by our editor, JoAnn Ryan:

What’s in store for the next letter? I’ll have to think about it!

Are you participating In Living Color’s A to Z Challenge?

Why don’t you?!

Have you found this to be a problem in your field? A recent new acquaintance and I discussed it — and linguistics in general. She found a similar problem in her field of actuarial mathematics and business.

Does the preponderance of television ads for pharmaceuticals bother you?

Let me know how you feel about either or both in the comment section!