By: Ismael J. Castillo
On the final leg of our tour on Day 4, we ventured and got close and personal with nature and the pristine wildlife of Penn’s Cave. Nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Central Pennsylvania, Penn’s Cave boasts of “the only all water cavern in America”.
Accommodating 22 from our group, the motorboat that took us along the subterranean stream meandered, and at some points, glided along narrow rock corridors. Some passageways were so narrow that only one boat could pass through at a time. Approaching boat from the opposite direction had to yield as a result.
With her voice echoing in the cavern, our young guide (how I love her girly impish chuckles that trailed off after each sentence) explained how the stalactites and stalagmites took different shapes, colors and textures through million of years of mild acidic water erosion of the limestone bedrock.
Interestingly, these natural limestone sculptures gave vague resemblance to a frozen waterfall for instance, hence the name Niagara Falls; a column (term for stalactite and stalagmite combined together) was named Statue of Liberty, while others were identified as Eagle Wings or Lace Curtains in view of their delicate thin stone layers and smooth geologic folds. Some rock formations were enhanced by electrical light effects that gave spellbinding impressions of Christmas or sunset sceneries.
For general knowledge, stalactites are flowstone growths hanging from the cave’s ceiling, while stalagmites rise from dry floor below. Our guide kept cautioning us not to touch the limestone walls as contact with human skin would stop the growth of the rocks (a process which, according to her, took thousands to million years).
Our half-mile cavern journey downstream opened out into the mythical Lake Nitanny where we were greeted by chirping birds, colorful butterflies flapping on wild flowers, and a flock of what appeared to be Canada geese wading in the serene lagoon.
In response to someone’s query, we learned from our guide that the lake and surrounding forest were designated sanctuary of geese, swan, bison, elks and other wildlife species. At the mouth of the cavern, near the boat dock where we embarked earlier, a school of large, pampered rainbow trout jumped and splashed upon fed.
The placid Nitanny Lake amidst ancient lush forest and rich green vegetations was a refreshing and most welcome sight after our three days of urban jungle exploits.
It can be noted that the route to Penn’s cave was off the tourists’ beaten path; and not as popular a destination as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. but in the grand scale, our trip was very much worthwhile.
