Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia — John Shaqi
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of VirginiaTorpey, Dorothy Margaret
History
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia
Torpey, Dorothy Margaret
Virginia -- Civilization
The chief caverns are called Endless (near New Market), Grand (at
Grottoes), Luray (near Luray)--the largest in Virginia, Massanutten
(near Harrisonburg), Melrose (near Harrisonburg), Shenandoah (near
New Market) and Skyline (near Front Royal). These caverns are of
limestone formation and contain stalagmites (upward-projecting forms
on a cavern floor) and stalactites (downward-projecting forms from
a cavern ceiling) in diverse shapes and colors. The Blowing Cave in
Bath County received its name from the inhalation of cold air during
the winter and the expulsion of cold air during the summer.
Burning Spring is located in Wise County and is so named because of
the liquid flames which seethe through the surface of the earth in
this area from unknown sources. Crystal Spring in Roanoke received
its name from the approximately five million gallons of crystal
water per day which likewise appear from some unknown source.
The famous Natural Bridge of Virginia is considered one of the seven
natural wonders of the new world. It is located near Lexington in
Rockbridge County (the county so-named because of the existence of
the bridge of rock) and is a bridge of stone ninety feet long and
two hundred and fifteen feet high spanning a gorge cut by Cedar
Creek. So unique is this formation that Indian lore relates that
it was referred to as "the Bridge of God." In this same region, in
Patrick County, may be seen crystals in the shape of crosses in
certain rock strata. So rare is their structure and clarity that
they are often called "Fairy Stones" or "Cross Stones."
The Natural Tunnel located in Purchase Ridge near Big Stone Gap
and Bristol is a tunnel approximately nine hundred feet long, one
hundred and fifty feet wide and one hundred feet high, carved by
flowing water through solid mountain terrain. The tunnel itself
includes a reverse curve, and, at the present time, railroad tracks
and Stock Creek waters run through it.
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Central Virginia, is believed to
be one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River.
These falls are formed by a branch of the Tye River, the South Fork,
descending two thousand feet below in cascade formation.
The Great Falls of the Potomac, located on the boundary between
Virginia and Maryland, is one of the highest waterfalls east of the
Rockies with an elevation of ninety feet.
The Natural Chimneys located at Mt. Solon are seven large towers of
stone carved by erosion out of a mountain. These rock strata are so
straight and so symmetrical that they resemble a series of chimneys
suggesting their name. Two of the chimneys have tunnels carved
through the bases, and cedar trees appear to grow out of the rock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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