Natural Chimneys
Encyclopedia
Natural Chimneys is a regional park
and natural rock structure located near Mt. Solon
in Augusta County, Virginia
, in the Shenandoah Valley
. The rock "chimneys" formed from limestone that began to accumulate and harden into stone about 500 million years ago in the Paleozoic Era, when the region was underwater. Over time, enormous upward pressures of magma and widespread geologic upheaval, which created the Appalachian Mountains
, combined with erosive forces of water and destroyed weaker layers of stone. Eventually, this created the rock chimneys as seen today. The chimneys tower as much as 120 feet above ground level.
The park, located along the North River
, has a 145-site campground with a pool, playground, and hiking trails. The park also hosts jousting tournaments in the summer. Augusta County owns the property and maintains the facility. The Upper Valley Regional Park Service operated the campground until 2009.
Regional park
Regional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government.-Definition:...
and natural rock structure located near Mt. Solon
Mount Solon, Virginia
Mount Solon is an unincorporated community in Augusta County, Virginia, United States, southwest of Harrisonburg and northwest of Staunton. Mount Solon is located in the 6th US Congressional District. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Earliest Settlements...
in Augusta County, Virginia
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
. The rock "chimneys" formed from limestone that began to accumulate and harden into stone about 500 million years ago in the Paleozoic Era, when the region was underwater. Over time, enormous upward pressures of magma and widespread geologic upheaval, which created the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
, combined with erosive forces of water and destroyed weaker layers of stone. Eventually, this created the rock chimneys as seen today. The chimneys tower as much as 120 feet above ground level.
The park, located along the North River
North River (South Fork Shenandoah River)
The North River is a river in the mountains and Shenandoah Valley of northern Virginia, the United States. It joins the South River at Port Republic to form the South Fork Shenandoah River....
, has a 145-site campground with a pool, playground, and hiking trails. The park also hosts jousting tournaments in the summer. Augusta County owns the property and maintains the facility. The Upper Valley Regional Park Service operated the campground until 2009.