Luray Caverns

"Stalactites are geological formation which hangs on the ceiling of limestone caves caused by dripping of mineralized water. Stalagmites are a kind of geological formation formed on the floor of limestone caves due to dripping of mineralized water” – This is what I studied as part of syllabus in 1st PU (+1) text books. Then heard about these formations from my cousin Arun when he was working in Bermuda. I saw them for the first time in Cliffhanger movie. Saw a single set of stalactite and stalagmite for the first time in a small cave near Baratang, Andaman Islands. But I had the real experience of Stalactites and Stalagmites when I visited Luray Caverns in Luray, Virginia.

Luray Caverns is a big underground caverns system near the town of Luray in middle of Shenandoah Valley. Around 80 miles from Washington, DC and less than 2 hours drive makes it a very popular destination. Discovered in 1878 by a local photographer Benton Stebbins and tinsmith Andrew Campbell was a small sinkhole from which cool breeze of air was coming. They started digging and putting away loose stone along with 3 other friends. Finally after 4 hours of digging they were able to make a small hole for one of the thinnest person in the group to sneak inside with a rope and explored it with candle light. Today all paths in these caverns are paved and can be seen with electric lights. Every visitor today is provided with a self guided tour pre-recorded audio player with the help of which it's very convenient in listening the history and formation of these beautiful structures. The temperature inside the cavern will be around 54 degree F.

The formation of these limestone caves started some 400 million years ago in a inland sea after the continental drift where Americas tectonic plates moved away from other land mass. The water inside the cave filled with acidic mixture of water and carbon dioxide started descending to lower levels when the underground water level started to recede. Rain water picks up diluted carbonic acid when it seeps through decaying vegetation in the soil above the rock. Upon entering the unique cave atmosphere, the solution of calcium carbonate gives up some of its carbon dioxide and allows a precipitation of lime to form. This precipitation begins as a thin deposit ring of crystallized calcite. As this process is continued, stalactites form from the ceiling. As the drops fall to the floor, deposits build forming stalagmites. When a stalactite growing down from the ceiling meets a stalagmite growing from the floor, a column or pillar is formed. Luray Caverns is an active cave where new deposits accumulate at the rate of one cubic inch in 120 years.

The different stages or six most common speleothems can be seen at Luray caverns.

1. Straws – a thin and tiny tubes hanging out from ceiling of these caves and water seeps through it. When the hole closes the minerals start depositing around it and develops into Stalactites.
2. Stalactites – the mineral deposits which cling to cave ceiling
3. Stalagmites – the formation on the ground below stalactites formed by dripping of mineralized water.
4. Columns – as the stalactites and stalagmites continue to grow they meet and become Columns.
5. Flowstone – mineral deposits flowing down stalagmites.
6. Drapery – are kind of Stalactites formed when constant flow of air is blown from the same direction gentle enough to create a curve.

One more attraction at Luray Caverns is the “Great Stalacpipe Organ”. It’s a unique organ and perhaps the biggest organ of its kind in the world. A few select Stalactites are stuck by rubber tipped mallets at various positions in a systematic manner to produce Organ quality sound. Back in the earlier days i.e., around June 1957 when it was first invented the Organ was played manually. Today it is played mechanically set to play few select tunes.

The caverns are filled with speleothems of different size, kind, color some of them worth mentioning are –

Dream lake – like a flawless mirror a pool of water has created a reflection of Stalactites hanging above. It is so wonderful and hard to believe at some point if its really a reflection over the water. The pool appears to be quite deep but the deepest part of the pool is just over a foot long and most part of the lake is around 4 to 6 inches deep.

Saracen’s tent – it’s a huge drapery and considered to be one of the most well formed draperies in the world.

Double Column-Giant’s Hall – The columns length is around 47 feet and the ceiling in Giant’s hall is over 60 feet in height.

Fried Eggs – a stalagmite resembling fried eggs.

Next to Luray Caverns is “Car and Carriage Caravan” museum. It has a good collection of wagons, carriages, cars dating back to 1725. The center piece of attraction is 1892 Benz car one of the oldest in the country in operating condition.

Cars fitted with electric lights were luxuries at times and some cars needed kerosene burners kept below engine to heat up and crank.

On our way back home we visited Skyline drive of Shenandoah National Park which became our most favorite get away.