From ocean-side Virginia Beach, it is more than 700 kilometres hike to reach the Cumberland Gap at the state’s southwestern tip. The low, sandy plain that extends out from the Chesapeake Bay is known as the Tidewater of ocean tides. Next inland is the Piedmont, which reaches west to the base of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Beyond lie the rich farmlands of the Shenandoah Valley and the rigged Appalachian terrain.

Many leaders in the movement for independence, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were Virginians. When the British were defeated in 1781 Virginia become the 10th state in 1788, with Richmond as its capital.

Today, Virginia’s population is one of the most diverse in the nation. Proximity to Washington D.C., and increased federal spending have boosted the state’s economy and help keep employment up. Northern Virginia attracts defense and other high-tech research activities. Traffic and other growth-related issues abound, with new housing even springing up near historic battlefields.

Virginia boasts more than 3,000 caves, mostly in or near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Acidic groundwater dissolves the limestone, leaving great underground chambers. In Luray Caverns, narrow passages open to rooms from 9-43 metres high.