BEGINNING OF THE SHENANDOAH
VALLEY
The separation
of the Americas from the continents of Europe and Africa, or the
continental drift, occurred about 600 million years ago. A
b
road shallow
depression from Alabama to Newfoundland was formed. Then, for 400
million years, an ancient sea flooded the area that is now the
Appalachian Mountains. Layers of water-borne sediments accumulated
on the ocean floor, followed by limestone sediments composed of
fossilized marine animals and shells. The weight of the sediments
eventually compressed the two layers into metamorphic rock.
As a result of the eons-old shifting of the earth's tectonic, or
crystal, plates, North America and Africa collided. This elevated
and fractured the sea floor, causing the older underlying layer of
metamorphic rock to tilt upward and slide over the younger layer,
creating a towering mountain range, the Appalachians.
GROWTH
OF FORMATIONS
Most caves result from a simple
formula. It consists of a layer of limestone, a mildly acidic
mixture of water and carbon dioxide and time precisely, millions of
years. The formation of  Luray
Caverns began after the limestone of the Shenandoah Valley was
formed as a result of the inland sea. The enclosing rocks consist
of granular crystalline dolomite belonging to the lower part of the
Beekmantown dolomite of Early Ordovician age. The entire cavern is
confined to a zone only about 100 feet thick and occurred in
coarse-grained crystalline dolomite.
The caverns contain no deposits that
indicate the former presence of large flowing streams, and most of
the cave deposits have been transported and deposited by very small
discharges of water. Rain water picks up diluted carbonic acid when
it seeps through decaying vegetation in the soil above the rock.
The hollowing-out of a limestone cave begins as this acidified
water percolated through the fissured limestone dissolving and
eroding layers along the way. Water eventually fills all openings
enlarging the existing crevices. Run-off soon descends into lower
levels of the earth leaving huge limestone chambers.
As the large volumes of water subside
and only slow seepage continues, nature's decorating process
begins. 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.
DRIPSTONE
Stalactites are formed often in a
fluted and uniformed fashion from the ceiling down. Stalagmites
build with distinct mounds and ridges on their way toward the
ceiling.
Dripstone, in addition to covering
the ceilings and floors, is also abundant on cavern walls. An often
more massive decoration is formed when the mineral bearing water
spreads over the limestone walls or builds its deposits from a
protruding ledge. These crystalline deposits, or flowstone, form
draperies and frozen waterfalls, veils and tents. Titania's Veil is
an example of this type of cave decoration.
|
|
DISCOVERY
Cold air rushing out of a limestone sinkhole atop a big hill
west of Luray, Virginia, blew out a candle held by Andrew Campbell,
the town tinsmith, on the morning of August 13, 1878. So began the
discovery of Luray Caverns. Campbell, three other men, and his
13-year-old nephew, Quint, were exploring the area, looking for a
cave. With the help of local photographer Benton Stebbins, the men
dug away loose rocks for four hours before, candle in hand,
Campbell and Quint slid down a rope into the cave. They could
scarcely believe what they saw. The party had discovered the
largest series of caverns in the East, an eerie world of
stalactites and stalagmites seen by the light of a candle.
At the time of the discovery, Sam Buracker of Luray owned the
land on which the cavern entrance was found. Because of uncollected
debts, a court-ordered auction of all his land was held on
September 14, 1878. Andrew Campbell, William Campbell, and Benton
Stebbins purchased the cave tract, keeping their discovery secret
until after the sale.
Word reached the Page-Courier, and that week there was a note,
somewhat tongue-in-cheek, about the sudden rise in the property
values of Cave Hill. Editor Andrew Broaddus' account in the October
third issue in the Page-Courier was a glowing acclamation with the
headline full of typographical mistakes:
The article gave a lavish description of the cave, ending with
the statement
that the "proprietors are now at work with a good force preparing
for an early illumination.
Alexander J. Brand, Jr., a correspondent for the New York
Herald, was the first travel writer to visit Luray Caverns. "It's a
magnificent cave, he told townspeople. "The most beautiful I've
ever seen. Trying to compare your cave to others would be like
comparing New York City to the Town of Luray." With those words,
the publics' interest in visiting the caverns began.
Professor Jerome J. Collins, one of the leading journalist on
the New York Herald's staff, postponed his departure on a North
Pole expedition to visit the caverns. He was preparing himself as
scientific correspondent on a projected three-year journey to the
North Pole. He was taking a course a the Smithsonian Institution on
the use of photographic equipment to be used on the voyage. He took
the train to Virginia to make a scientific report on the cave
before the sailing of the expedition ship "Jeannette" from San
Francisco.
The Smithsonian Institution sent a delegation of nine scientists
to examine the caverns and praised them for their ornamentation.
The report of July 13 and 14, 1880 comments... "it is safe to say
that there is probably no other cave in the world more completely
and profusely decorated with stalactite and stalagmite
ornamentation than that of Luray.
TODAY
For more than 130 years, Luray Caverns has been renowned as one
of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. A subterranean
wonderland of magic and majesty, still as marvelously beautiful as
described in the newspaper headlines over a century ago.
Today, Lura
y Caverns attracts
one-half million visitors annually from around the globe. In 2008,
this venerable attraction hosted guests from throughout North
America including all 50 U.S. states and 52 foreign nations.
Russell Gurnee, noted author and former president of the
Explores Club, summarized in his book Discovery of Luray Caverns,
Virginia,
"Luray Caverns remains a tribute to the courage and vision of
explorers who will persevere to seek out secrets of our world. In
an imperfect human world it is reassuring that the discovery of
these men of vision has been preserved for the enjoyment of this
and succeeding generations.
Luray Caverns is truly America's underground classroom as the
U.S. Natural Landmark is visited by more student tours each year
than any other cave in the world. Thank yous come in many forms
upon their return home.
Hours and Admission Information
Luray Caverns is open every day of the year. Tours depart
approximately every twenty minutes. The General Admission includes
the attraction entrance fee and Luray Caverns audio tour.
Tours begin each day at 9:00am.
The last tour departs at:
April 1st to June 14th -- 6:00pm
June 15th to Labor Day -- 7:00pm
Day after Labor Day to October 31st -- 6:00pm
November 1st to March 31st -- 4:00pm (5:00pm on weekends)
Admission
Adults: $23.00
Children (Ages 6 – 12): $11.00
Children (Ages 5 and under): No charge when accompanied by a parent
or guardian.
Senior Citizens (Ages 62+): $21.00
SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH ANSWERS
TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO CLAIM THIS
EARTHCACHE:
To answer the questions and claim the cache,
you will have to take the guided tour INSIDE the
caverns.
*If you are hearing-impaired, or
simply refuse to take the guided tour, you're only required to
answer questions in *GREEN*
Do not post any answers in your logs or
it will be deleted.
1. The oldest part of the caverns is known as
what?
2. What is the biggest, and oldest formation
in the cavern?
3. How far underground are you at the caverns'
deepest point?
4. How deep is the "Wishing Well" at its
deepest point? What color is the water? Why?
5. At the end of the tour, just before you
head up the stairs, you'll notice a strange looking feature. What
USED TO BE done here for good luck?
6. Post a picture of you, and/or a GPS from
inside the cave.
1. What do you believe causes the
formations inside the caverns to be different colors?
2. As you walk through the caverns,
notice the artificial lighting shining directly on the rocks...What
strange substance do you see?
3. Luray Caverns is an
active cave where new deposits accumulate at the rate of
approximately one cubic inch in 120 years... Using this number,
estimate the age of some of the largest
formations?
4. Post a
picture of you, and/or a GPS from inside the
cave.
Unique
Visitors
