Although my posts have largely been about enjoying nature aboveground, my journey to Luray Caverns has shown me how beautiful natural formations within the earth can be!
Luray Caverns refers to a large underground cave located right next to Luray, Wirginia. It’s been drawing tourists ever since it was discovered by photographer Benton Stebbins and tinsmith Andrew J. Campbell and his nephew in 1878. Descending into the caves felt like entering another world! The spotlights set up throughout the tunnels reflected off the randomly shaped rock formations, so some parts of the caverns were brightly lit while some remained in the shadows. The erratic brightness of the lights further contributed to the otherworldly feel of the tunnels! The caverns were full of stalagmites and stalactites, which jutted up from the floor or ceiling like teeth!
The complete lack of plants and greenery also made the caverns seem less natural, though ironically they were formed through natural processes within the earth. The physical appearance of the cave wasn’t the only thing that made the experience strange, however. As the caverns were below ground and away from the sound of animals and people above, the atmosphere of the cave felt oddly frozen and stagnant. It felt like when you made any sound, the noise would just sort of hang in the air. It was very bizarre!
Rock formations aside, there were also beautiful pools of water within the stone floors of the caves. Some pools simply flowed around the stalagmites on the ground, but others glittered in bright ponds contained within the rocky ground. The water in such pools was lit in such a way to make them appear to be a bright, shimmery turquoise, which made them especially eye-catching by breaking the surrounding beige-brown of the stone all around it. Our tour guide led us around the cave as we passed structures that looked like stone waterfalls frozen in time and other rocky spines that littered the cave. If you’ve never been to an underground cavern, I highly recommend visiting one! It’s a very strange but fascinating sensation being in an environment so different from what most of us are used to.
After returning above ground, we headed to a mountainous region nearby, which gave use a beautiful view of the green forests that carpeted them. As we walked among the trees, we came across streams trickling over rocks and stones as it flowed downstream. I think it’s interesting to think how rocks can appear to be part of a natural landscape when there are plants and other wildlife around, but in an environment made entirely of stone, the entire place can feel completely alien.
Visiting Luray Caverns was a very otherworldly experience, but I really enjoyed getting the chance to walk around in such a strange place! However, the surrounding areas are still full of aboveground nature, so the region of Luray, Virginia provides a great mix of both for you to experience!
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