Ground Water is an instructional film from 1935 that traces the movement of water through the watershed. It was made by ERPI classroom films (later to be known as Encyclopedia Britannica Films) which was founded in the 1920’s. (ERPI; along with other film companies such as Eastman Teaching Films, Pathe Exchange and Coronet Instructional films produced works for educational use. Encyclopedia Britannica would go on to become one of the leading film producers for schools and libraries from the 1940’s to the 1990’s.)
The film opens with rain bubbling and collecting on the surface of the ground (:31). This water will penetrate the soil eventually forming ground water (:32). Ground water trickles back up and out of a tiny spring (:41). An underground channel (:47) leads to a geyser (:49). A diagram follows to show the path of the groundwater (:58) as it feeds a well. The upper surface of the saturated ground is known as the water table (1:33). The water table rises (1:41). Layers of shale rest atop the groundwater (2:26). This collection of water is known as a reservoir (2:31) which can be tapped as water flows from a well (2:40). Ground water naturally seeps from porous rocks (2:54). A hot spring erupts (3:04). Minerals left behind from hot water springs build terraces (3:18). A sample of small plant life growing within the terraces is plucked (3:29). Deposits are quarried (3:42). The rock pictured is travertine rock to be used for ornamental wall finishes. A bubbling geyser follows (4:02). A diagram displays activity under the geyser (4:13). Daisy Geyser in Yellowstone National Park (5:15) is pictured. Old Faithful blows hourly (5:34) during winter and summer months. The Norris basin sits nearby (5:51). The film turns to an underground chamber in Carlsbad, New Mexico (7:09). A sketch shows the process of the formation of stalagmites (6:59). Actual formations follow from Carlsbad (7:09). Wispy deposits known as moss are pictured (7:33). A stream flows through Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (7:47). An animation shows what happens when a cave’s roof collapses (8:13). The durable roof left behind forms a natural bridge (8:30). The Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona (8:43) is visited. Here, skeletons of ancient animals are preserved (9:12). A dinosaur skull appears (9:21). The interior of a geode follows (9:32). Rich Iron ores exist in the Lake Superior regions (9:39). This was an ERPI Classroom Film (10:17).
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