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Natural Tunnel State Park Traditional Cache

Hidden : 4/17/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

You're looking for a plastic ammo can. The cache was moved when the park did some work around the front of the office. The Natural Tunnel sign was actually revamped and moved a little bit down from the office. I would now look closer to the flagpole than the sign.

This is a quick cache just off of Highway 23. If your looking for a chance to grab a cache and stretch your legs while traveling - this is the cache for you. There is convenient parking within a few feet of the cache. Welcome to Natural Tunnel State Park! The state acquired the tunnel and 100 surrounding acres in 1967 from the Natural Tunnel Chasm and Caverns Corp. to establish Natural Tunnel State Park. Another 850 acres were later acquired, and the park opened in 1971.

Natural Tunnel, called the Eighth Wonder of the World by William Jennings Bryan, has been attracting sightseers to the mountains of southwestern Virginia for more than 100 years. The tunnel is believed to be about one million years old. It is said that Daniel Boone was among the first explorers to see the tunnel, although Native Americans and long hunters lived and explored in the region prior to that. Today it is the focal point of the park, which offers visitors not only spectacular sights but also swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, a visitor center, an amphitheater and interpretive programs.

The creation of Natural Tunnel began more than a million years ago in the early glacial period when groundwater bearing carbonic acid percolated through crevices and slowly dissolved surrounding limestone and dolomite bedrock. Then, what is now Stock Creek was probably diverted underground to continue carving the tunnel slowly over many centuries. The walls of the tunnel show evidence of prehistoric life, and many fossils can be found in the creek bed and on tunnel walls. While you're here pick up a map of the park and don't miss this natural wonder! There are many other caches in the area to find along with a few Earthcaches. Enjoy the park and Happy Caching!
FTF HONORS GO TO DMflyer!!!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Pybfr gb gur syntcbyr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)