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Discovered in 1872, Crystal Cave in the borough of Kutztown, PA was a natural phenomenon that captured tourists hundreds of miles around. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere, what used to be an empty section of the map now contains a vast cave system underground that puts it on the map.

The middle of nowhere can contain some very wonderful scenes. So when I say “I wish I could go again”, there actually is a reason behind that statement. The drive had many natural treasures. Planting fields spread out into the distance as far as the eye could see. Neat, tidy, orderly rows upon rows of plants decorated the scenic view, acting as the paint on the canvas. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future I was called upon to write a poem about nature that I would relate back to this view. The isolation of the people out here is also another case. Like I said, this was the middle of nowhere, imagine driving an hour to get ice cream.

Crystal Cave is a cave reaching down 155 feet/47 meters below the earth’s surface, keeping the temperature mostly at 54^oF/12^oC all year round. I guess there is something called a free AC installation. The cave was filled with stalagmites and stalactites including onyx, agate, and jasper, flowing-like stones and columns forming pictures. The process of getting a result like Crystal Cave is a tiny chance, considering a stalagmite takes 500 years to grow one, small centimeter. Boy, I thought watching grass grow was boring. This just created an entirely different level.

The rock formations created interesting shapes as well. The images depended on the person’s own interest and imagination. For example, I could see the face of Jack Frost keeping the temperature cool on a rock, puffing his cheeks as if he was blowing an icy gale. Luckily for me, I had a high-tech, heat-preserving Nike sweatshirt that prevented any chances of hypothermia or frostbite. The cave showed wonder upon wonder. Rocks that seemed to flow down the side of the cave looked like actual water. In addition, the temperature varied every few feet, and the differences could be subtle or enormous.

Wonders of the earth are, well, wonderful. The events that occur are slim to one, but when the conditions are right, beautiful scenes like Crystal Cave appear.

【红霞译文】

1872年在库茨敦城外发现的水晶洞堪称宾州遐迩闻名的自然奇观，它地处荒山野岭，一度人迹罕至，直到庞大的地下溶洞系统问世才变得家喻户晓。

沿用蛮荒之地来衬托水晶洞地宫之神妙并非言过其实，当我道出“后会有期”，无法掩饰话语中隐藏于内心难以忘却的记忆。行驶在通往水晶洞的道路上，淳朴浓郁的乡村气息迎面扑来，葱葱田野漭荡无垠，莽莽林海清俊挺拔，活脱脱勾勒出一幅生机盎然的动人画卷。假如有朝一日我要写首诗歌颂扬自然风情，眼前的美轮美奂说不定会悄然跃于纸上，那些置身世外的当地民众权且另当别论。正如我前面所说的那样，水晶洞的确前不巴村后不着店，欲想吃口冰激凌非得驱车赶赴个把钟头开外的地方。

水晶洞距离地面有155英尺／47米之深，终年保持华氏54度／摄氏12度恒温，因此空调设施在这里完全成了多余的东西。溶洞由石笋和钟乳石组成，经过漫长的地质变迁，玛瑙、玉髓、碧玉千姿百态逐个展现在世人面前，就拿石笋来说，每长出一厘米需要耗费五百年之久。天哇，眼巴巴地望着草地一天天长起来就够让人心急火燎的，更何况规模雄伟的溶洞。

岩层的形状固然多种多样，但有些还得靠观众自己去想象，譬如：我仿佛看到冰霜杰克那张能叫岩石保持清凉的脸庞，其腮帮子鼓得圆圆的，好像正使劲吹起凛冽的狂风，幸亏我身穿高科技研制的耐克仿寒运动服，才使自己免遭低温症的折磨或躲避掉冻伤的摧残。水晶洞让人类见证无数奇迹，下垂的钟乳石看上去跟倒挂的流水一模一样；温度随地势落差的不同而发生变化，要么小的无法察觉，要么大的惊心动魄。

由衷感慨大自然鬼斧神工，让不起眼的东西发展成不得了的奇迹，只要时机成熟，像水晶洞这样的撼世杰作脱手而出。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2010: 菲力克斯兔游明信片(Felix the Rabbit Traveling Postcard)