Following up on last year’s long hike to Sand Cave in Virginia, we took a less strenuous walk through Craighead Caverns on Thursday, April 9. Craighead Caverns, near Sweetwater, TN, is more known for having the largest underground lake in the US, 2nd largest in the world.
It was not easy to take good pictures inside the cave, as the flash tended to reflect off the cave walls, and the humidity inside the cave also created reflective dots on the pictures. After a long, sometimes steep walk, we took a short boat ride on the 4 acre “lake”. We ended the afternoon by dining at a nice microbrewery in Chattanooga.
The tunnel leading down into the cave
Loraine, Nicki and Debbie heading down the tunnel
I took this picture pointing into the darkness, unaware of the narrowing ceiling
The plants grow from spores carried unknowingly by visitors, which then survive by the light of the electric lamps
A moonshine still left in the cave from decades ago
Water trickles from a hole in the cave ceiling
Cave ceiling with anthodite crystals
Anthodite crystals on the cave ceiling
Writings dating to 19th century, some left by confederate army soldiers
Once a fallout shelter, some rations remain boxed in a corner
Cave ceiling
More anthodite crystals on the cave ceiling
A view in the cave taken from the walking path
Another view in the cave
Cave wall
Boat dock
Boat dock following our boat ride
A picture from the internet showing a clearer picture of the boat ride in the cave
great photos. Sounds like something I would like to do.
It was interesting, no doubt.