Nepal Earthquake

Swimming Holes

Swimming holes are sacred places to many people. Unlike their concrete relatives in cities and suburbs, they're remote and usually uncrowded. They are a symbol of a simpler time when people were more tied to their natural surroundings. 

  • Cody Yeagle, center left, and Mike Bretado, center right, walk towards the Henryton Tunnel while leaving a swimming hole in the Patapsco River in Carroll County, MD on Monday July 16, 2012. Swimmers walk through the tunnel to get from one well known swimming hole to another. The tunnel was constructed in the mid-1800's by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It has gone through some changes since then, including being rebuilt in 1903. It is still in use today. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Peter Lee holds his dog, Zizu as he hangs out with friends at Belle Isle on Tuesday July 31, 2012 in Richmond, VA. The island is a popular spot for people to take a dip and cool off in the waters of the James River. The island was used as a prison camp for Union soldiers during the Civil War. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Satchal McClellan, 19, kisses Alexis Chamot, 18, as they cool off in Passage Creek within the George Washington National Forest outside of Front Royal, VA on Thursday August 02, 2012. There are other swimming holes in Passage Creek in close proximity. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Stuart Sherbs, top, uses a rope swing to lauch himself towards the water to join Mica D'Alesandro, center left to right, Jessica Huskey, Connor Eash, Chris Winter, Sean Winter, and Bekah Hogg as people cool off from the summer heat in the Patapsco River in Carroll County, MD on Monday July 16, 2012. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Tony Prilola, left, Justin Horvath, center, and Emily Cardaro, right, take a break from cooling off in the Patapsco River in Carroll County, MD on Monday July 16, 2012. The swimming spot has a rope swing. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Tony Prilola uses a rope swing to launch himself into the Patapsco River in Carroll County, MD on Monday July 16, 2012. The swimming spot has a rope swing. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Russell Roth, 63, of Solon, OH cools off at Cunningham Falls State Park on Wednesday July 25, 2012 in Thurmont, MD. Russell enjoys a more rural swimming spot because it's away from the crowds. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Preston Junkin, 8, lays out on a rock while he and his brother and their friend take a dip in Passage Creek within the George Washington National Forest outside of Front Royal, VA on Tuesday July 17, 2012. There are other swimming holes in Passage Creek in close proximity. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Ricky Herrera and his son, Ethen Herrera, 3, cool off at Belle Isle on Tuesday July 31, 2012 in Richmond, VA. The island is a popular spot for people to take a dip and cool off in the waters of the James River. The island was used as a prison camp for Union soldiers during the Civil War. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
  • Thomas Johnson of King William, VA watches Justin Bryant of Mechanicsville, MD swing into the James River on Wednesday July 18, 2012 in Richmond, VA. (Photo by Matt McClain for The Washington Post)
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