TRADITIONAL TOUR ... Adults $12.00 ... Seniors $11.00 ... Youth (Grades 6 thru 12) $10.00 ... Child (Grades K thru 5) $9.00. Laurel Caverns operates as a visitor supported conservancy. All funds support this 435 acre privately owned geological preserve. This is a one hour tour, walking about a half mile through cave passages.
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
THIS IS SEASONAL, BUT KEEPING IT ACTIVE FOR THOSE PLANNING A VISIT.
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. In most caves, you are not allowed to touch the surfaces. However, you are allowed to touch the surfaces in this cave. Explain.
2. MESSAGE …. The Pillar of Hercules is one of the most unusual rocks in the cave. Explain.
3. MESSAGE …. Favorites ... a. What is your favorite stone formation? Where is it located? ... b. What is your favorite room? Why did you choose it?
4. LOG …. Relate your favorite cave story.
My favorite story is about the woodrat, which is protected in Pennsylvania. They like shiny objects. Sometimes staff will find an acorn in the gift shop knowing the woodrat was there. It is put in the cash register to indicate something in the shop was "purchased".
5. LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item anywhere along the tour. This picture is your log signature.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
We (RTLN) enjoyed a game of cavern mini-golf and learned interesting cave facts as we played. RT made par and LN made under par.
THANK YOU David Cale for permission to share this earthcache.
Laurel Caverns is the deepest and longest developed cave in Pennsylvania.
It is over 3 miles long and drops 40 stories in elevation.
Laurel Caverns is also the largest natural bat hibernaculum in Pennsylvania.
ENTRANCE
The fossil wall is comprised of rocks found on the property. The cave temperature remains a constant 52°F year round. Along the passage, there is a window to view the original triangular entrance to the cave. Another smaller window near the end of the tunnel is the bat entrance.
GEOLOGY
The rock was formed during the Mississippian (325 mya) when this area was covered by a deep sea. The Loyahanna Limestone is 50% calcium and 50% quartz. It is cave-bearing rock capable of supporting the tons of rock above. The composition of the limestone gives the passages their unique shapes, but do not promote the growth of speleothems (calcium carbonate formations).
Cracks in the ceiling provided a pathway for groundwater to enter the bedrock. This dissolved the rock and formed the passages. The quartz sand in the rock filled the passages and over the centuries, streams washed out the sand. The floors you navigate on are actually a combination of rock and compacted sand.
The rock layers within this cave were folded and thrust upwards during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. There are fault lines throughout the cave that were caused from this mountain-building process. In one of the rooms, you can observe a thrust fault where the top rock has been thrust over the bottom rock.
ADVENTURES
Several unique experiences await you on your tour through this cavern. One is a demonstration of an illusion due to lack of reference points. Another is an activity that diverts your mind and body from the climb ahead. A unique sound/light show awaits you near the end of the tour.
ROCK-WATER RELATIONSHIP
Water is necessary for speleothems to form. The nature of the cave formation depends on whether the water drips, seeps, condenses, flows, or ponds.