Grand Caverns, National Natural Landmark cave system in Grottoes, Virginia.
Grand Caverns is a limestone cave system in Grottoes, Virginia, guiding visitors through a series of underground passages and rooms of varying sizes. The ceilings and walls are covered with formations including stalactites, stalagmites, and rarer shield formations that jut out like flat, rounded plates from the rock.
The cave was discovered in 1804 and opened to the public shortly after, making it one of the earliest tourist attractions of its kind in the United States. During the Civil War, soldiers from both sides sheltered here and left their names on the walls, which can still be seen today.
The cave is one of the oldest show caves in the US, visited by generations of local families. One of its large rooms was once used for dances and is still called the Grand Ballroom today.
The temperature inside stays cool year-round, so bringing an extra layer of clothing is a good idea even in summer. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as some sections of the path can be uneven or slightly damp.
Grand Caverns contains an unusually high number of shield formations, a type of cave formation that is rare in most caves around the world. Scientists still debate exactly how these formations grow, making them an active area of geological research.
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