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Stalactites and Stalagmites

Luray Caverns are the highlight of the small town of Luray. They’re open every day of the year and run hour-long guided tours every 20 minutes. It’s unbelievable how monumental a cavern is hiding just 70 stairs below ground level.

These have got to be the most ornately complex caverns I’ve ever seen.

In to cavern
Stalctite: icicle-like formation from ceiling. Stalagmite: buildup protruding from floor

Our tour guide explained how the caverns were discovered (3 guys felt some cool air coming from an opening, dug an opening, and the smallest wriggled in), how they form (water drips with mineral deposits and the minerals build up behind them), and pointed out formations that have been given names. The formations take anywhere from 120-200 years to form 1 cubic inch, depending on the mineral. Yowza.

Fish Market - called so because of the glistening formations still development
Fish Market – because of the glistening formations still in development
Green Lake - the largest body of water in the cavern
Green Lake – the largest body of water in the cavern
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Crystal clear reflections!
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I think Green Lake is my favorite part of the cave
Drapery formation. The lights are actually behind the thinnest formations in the cave, ~1/8 in thick
Drapery formation. The lights on the right + bottom left are actually behind crystals ~1/8 thick, the thinnest formations here
The most recent fallen formation, from around 700 years ago likely due to a tremor
The most recent fallen formation from around 700 years ago, likely due to a tremor

cavern

Left: They call it either a Redwood or Dog. I see an elephant. Right: Ice cream cone!
Left: They call it either a Redwood or a Dog. I see an elephant. Right: Ice cream cone!
Worlds only Stalacpipe Organ. Rubber mallet on the right strikes the stalactite to hit a note
World’s only Stalacpipe Organ. Rubber mallet on the right strikes the stalactite to hit a note

The Stalacpipe Organ sounds eerily beautiful. The tour guide pressed a button to give us the automated demo (the keys on the organ did not move while it played). She told us that the organ creator found or cut stalactites to recreate every note on the organ.caverns

eggsThe eggs (above) are one of the most well known formations. They were created on accident by some workers who were building the pathways within the cave who broke off two stalagmites. The spots where they were now look like 2 fried eggs. In person I thought they looked more like oysters broken open (a scallop on the left perhaps?). The second half of the tour led us through a couple tight squeezes and a few low-ish tunnels (I didn’t need to duck, but Jon did).

Just before we exited we walked by the wishing well where coins are encouraged. Every year, the water is drained and the coins are collected for medical research, educational grants, and other nonprofits.

Grand total to date (since 1954): $1,017,868.32
Sign lists annual charities and donation amounts. Grand total to date (since 1954): $1,017,868.32

thanks luray

Took a quick pic of the prints they were selling...a bit shaky, but you get the idea
Took a quick pic of the prints they were selling…a bit shaky, but you get the idea

7 Comments

  1. red red

    Your photos of Luray Caverns are amazing! Have been to Carlsbad (NM: very deep but love the evening bats’ routine) and Lewis & Clark Caverns (MT: required hiking about 3/4 mi up from parking lot to cave mouth). I think Luray is the prettiest!!

    • Thank you! I agree – of the caves I’ve seen (a few in China, and one in Belize that was more for adventuring through) this was definitely the prettiest!
      I’ll still have to check out Carlsbad. I do like bats too!
      In Luray Caverns the walk through the cave was just over a mile, and no hike to enter other than the stairs down.

  2. Ashley Ashley

    Amazing!!!

    • It’s breathtaking! Cumberland Caverns is in Tennessee – and they have concerts, walks through, even overnight caving explorations! Maybe for a weekend away with the fam? =)

  3. Eve Eve

    Love the pics and much nicer than the one I visited in Mexico Rio Secreto or perhaps is just different.
    Now I have to go and visit in the future to compare.

    • Yes! And you have a place to stay here too =D

  4. charles charles

    neat photos!

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