American Bottoms
The American Bottoms
The American Bottoms is located about 8 miles east of Bloomfield, Indiana in rural eastern Greene County, Indiana. For one of the most unique geological features in Indiana this local attractions to Greene County, Indiana is not well known. The area, surrounded by bluffs and ridges on three sides forms a basin.
The basin was formed by a pre-glacier trench with around 100 feet of gravel, sand & silt. The American Bottoms is different for it has not surface drainage out of it. Four special conditions were put together to form this unusual geological event. First off the rock exposed, second the several uplifts with intervening short periods of stability, third the glaciers on two sides of the area and last the main drainage flow toward the west or south.
There are 5200 acres of American Bottoms surrounded by hills and bluffs. A commonly asked question is "Were does all the water go," the answer is found in two porous types of stones in the area. These stones are sandstone and Beech Creek limestone. These are providers of a natural drainage system.
Bridge Creek is the creek draining into the American Bottoms. The "Swallow Hole" of the area is considered very dangerous because it contains several cave like formations that descend deep below the earths surface. The water that leaves the American Bottoms travels underground the an area near Koleen at Rock Springs. The spring formed as water began to drain from the rock bluff. The water then continues its journey until draining into Richland Creek.
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
Pictures can be found in our photogallery.
