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Dixie Caverns facts for kids

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Dixie Caverns
Dixie Caverns.jpg
Cathedral Room at Dixie Caverns
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Type Natural Area
Created 1923 (1923)

Dixie Caverns is a cool underground world you can explore! It's a special type of cave called a "show cave." This means it's set up for visitors to safely walk through and see amazing natural formations. You can find Dixie Caverns in Roanoke County, Virginia, USA. It's about four miles west of Salem. This cave formed in limestone rock over many, many years.

Discovering Dixie Caverns

Imagine finding a secret underground world! That's what happened in 1920. Two farm boys were exploring when their dog, Dixie, fell into a hole. Luckily, Dixie was okay! The hole led to these amazing caverns. The boys named the caves "Dixie Caverns" to honor their adventurous dog.

Exploring the Cave

You can take a guided tour through Dixie Caverns. The tour usually lasts about 45 minutes. A guide will lead you through different parts of the cave. They will show you the incredible rock formations inside.

Amazing Rock Formations

Caves like Dixie Caverns are full of unique shapes. These shapes are called speleothems. They form as water slowly drips through the rock. One of the most famous formations here is the "Wedding Bell." It's a bell-shaped flowstone. Flowstones are like frozen waterfalls of rock. People have even held weddings right under the "Wedding Bell" formation!

Location and Views

Dixie Caverns is located inside a hill. From the top of the hill, you can see great views of the area around it. It's a fun place to visit and learn about how caves are made.

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