One of the large thermal springs in Bath County flows down Falling Springs Valley
tumbling over the waterfall at the end of the valley. There is an unusual rock like
deposit all along the stream bed. The spring water, degasses and precipitates
a mineral, calcium carbonate, called marl and travertine. This is a rock -like
material that built up in terraces, rimstone dams, stalactites and drapery like
formations. The volume of marl and travertine was such that it was quarried for
agriculture lime in the 1920's. A hydro-electric generation plant was constructed
and using the stream, generated power used near the town of Falling Springs.
Today the waterfall is a scenic overlook along Route 220 about
8 miles north of Covington.

Maiden Spring is the resurgence or out-flow of a large karst area in Tazewell
County. Obviously it flows from a large cave entrance but inside the ceiling slopes
down and the passage is filled with the swiftly flowing cave stream.

There are several sulphur springs in Virginia and this one is in Scott County.
The old concrete spring box has seen many thousands of sulfur spring water flow
into the nearby creek. This spring is unmarked but here is no mistaking the sulfur's
rotten egg smell once you draw close. The white film is most likely bacteria
feeding on the sulfides.

Back to Karst Springs - Part 1

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