The two RV Gypsies and their grandson at Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain |
July 3, 2011 |
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Ruby Falls is a 145-foot high underground waterfall located within Lookout Mountain, near Rock City and Chattanooga, Tennessee. About 200 to 240 million years ago the eastern Tennessee area was covered with a shallow sea, the sediments of which eventually formed limestone rock. This area was uplifted and subsequent erosion has created the current topography. The limestone in which the cave is formed is still relatively horizontal, just as it was deposited when it was below sea level. |
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Ruby Falls Cave had no natural
openings and was not able to be entered until the 20th Century. |
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Can YOU see the formations described below? |
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Angel's Wing |
Ruby's Drapery |
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Bacon |
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Beehives |
The south end of a donkey going north |
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Cactus
and Candle |
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Dragon's Foot
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Totem Pole |
Leaning Tower |
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Elephant's Foot |
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Niagara Falls |
Fish |
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Potato Chip |
Tobacco Leaves |
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Turtle |
Steak and Potatoes |
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Western Sunset |
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End
of formations |
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Weight
Watchers Isle |
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Leo's
Passage |
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The Falls are located at the end of the main passage of Ruby Falls Cave, in a large vertical shaft. The stream, 1120 feet underground, is fed both by rainwater and natural springs. It collects in a pool in the cave floor and then continues through the mountain until finally joining the Tennessee River at the base of Lookout Mountain. Different colored lights shone on the falls, but the photos all showed up in purple. | |
The Waterfall
at Ruby Falls | (3 photos and a postcard of the Falls) |
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Lights at the bottom of the falls gave the illusion that the water changes colors - but all pictures taken today by the two RV Gypsies showed a pinkish-purple color. | |
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Walking
behind the waterfall - Note: the two RV Gypsies came here again in 2014 with Karen's sister, and tourists were no longer allowed to walk behind this waterfall. How sad, because Karen thought this was the best part of the tour. The guide said someone complained, so they stopped it. |
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Views
from the outside tower |
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A partial
view of ONE of several parking lots |
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Ruby Falls Cave combines with Lookout Mountain Cave to form the Lookout Mountain Caverns, the two caves were not actually connected by any passage. Ruby Falls Cave is the upper of the two and contains a variety of geological formations and curiosities which Lookout Mountain Cave does not have. |
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You may visit each of the
seven (7) sections below in any order you wish.
The page you are on is grayed
out and cannot be chosen from here. |
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Ruby Falls |
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Cloudland
Canyon in Rising Fawn, Georgia (2 pages) |
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