What the Walrus said . . .

Photos and Anecdotes from a vagabond!

Six feet and deeper!

As I had previously stated, on my way from Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia, to visit my BFF Sonia and her husband Joseph in Norfolk, Virginia, I opted to go visit the Luray Caverns, in Luray, Virginia.

I have always loved caves, ever since the first time my older brother led me into a limestone cave system that existed in the 70’s on the University of California at Santa Cruz property. It was slimy and dark, wet and creepy, but I found I enjoyed being in the ground. As I understand now, that system has been dynamited to seal up the entrance, rumor has it that there was a possibly fatality somewhere inside the tunnels below. Whatever the reason, this could only be a true lose to many young and would be spelunkers!

Accumulated water from surface seepage creates a small lake underground, capturing and reflecting the light bouncing off the ceiling and pillars in just one section of the caverns.

Luray Cavern, like so many around the country, was discovered over a hundred years ago by young men who became curious over cool air blowing up from a simple hole in the ground. With rudimentary tools, these gentlemen widened the opening, lowered themselves down on ropes into the mysterious black voids (with full disregard or ignorant misunderstanding the aspects of many poisonous and/or explosive gasses that could have been present!) lit up torches and candles and marveled at the wonderland they had discovered.

Over time, various entities fought in the courts for ownership of the caverns . . . and it probably fascinates some . . . but I just wanted to get underground! Digging into my wallet, I purchased my ticket (a bit more pricey than I expected at $29.00 for a Senior), and after running the gauntlet of cups, magnet, shirts, etc. that are sold in the Souvenir Store (that you have to go through going in and out of the caverns . . .what a marketing concept!!), I found myself walking down the long, covered serpentine entrance. Let me stop here for a second and explain . . . Luray Caverns is the fourth largest caverns system in the United States. As such it gets THRONGS of tourists every year. The parking lot is massive, there is a restaurant, toy store, antigue car exhibit, rope climbing area for kids, fudge shop, etc. Across the access road is a collection of 1800 era buildings in a farm setting to tour. It reminded me of an amusement park than the entrance to a cavern.

Luray Caverns have spent a lot of money and time to modify the caverns so that the entire length is handicap accessible with even and wide floors as shown above.
Panorama of a section of one of the open cavern areas. The formations of the stalactites and stalagmites (also called Speleothems) that have grown over hundreds of thousands of years is both fascinating and awe inspiring. I can almost imagine what it must have been like to have been the first person into these cracks and crevasses with only a candle or possible lantern for illumination. These days, the lighting inside the caverns is marvelous and so cleverly installed it is almost as if it is natural.
Looking like melted wax from a million candles, the calcite containing water dripping from above carries the minerals that shape and coalesce into spires and columns, walls, curtins and cones.
Another panorama showing how the differing directions of the flow of the water seeping into the cavern has created the varying shapes along the cavern walls.
Continuing to grow with each and every drip, the cavern continues to change and grow.
The colors are caused by the various organic compounds and minerals that are leeched from the soils and rock above.
There are many different sizes, shapes and textures of the stalactites and stalagmites.
These pillars or columns of stalactites and stalagmites are easily over twenty feet tall. Sections of this cavern system are easily 60 feet. You can sort of gauge the height using the guardrail as a guide.
A truly impressive solid mineral column.
How many hundreds of thousands of years did it take to make this wall of solid stalactite and stalagmite curtins?

It is extremely difficult to truly show you what the Luray Caverns are like in these photos. You also do not get to hear the sound of the stalactite organ that was built in the cavern in 1950. Designed and built by a mathematician, manned with a rubber mallet, tapped over 3,500 different stalactites over 13.5 acres inside the cavern just to find the required 32 clear notes. he then used electronic plungers connected and activated by the keys of organ to create a very individual sound below the earth. You really must be there to hear it!!

Each of you should add the Luray Caverns to your list of places that are a “must see”. I am certain you will be as fascinated as I was. Plus, on a hot surface day . . . mother earth is always cool!!

majik756

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