Wieliczka Salt Mine is within the capital of scotland – Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies inside Krakow metropolitan area. Through the Neolithic times, table salt was produced here in the upwelling brine.
Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt is still created from underground brine, this will make it pumped to the surface and changed into pure evaporated salt.
The mines are actually the state Polish Historical Monument as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its attraction includes four chapels, an underground lake, historic salt-mining and labyrinthine technology displays.
Learn more about Wieliczka Salt Mine during these best fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine ends 700 Years
The history of the Wieliczka Salt mine dates back to the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface have been collected and processed due to the sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the fantastic contributed greatly on the continuing development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges anf the husband took the miners under his protection.
Over the use of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug as well as technologies were added, including the Hungarian horse treadmill. During The second world war, the Germans used the mine as a possible underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. A lot of the Mine Interior is Made of Salt
This is the salt mill, all things considered. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, as well as crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. When you go to the mines, it is possible to touch something to feel.
You’ll find wooden beams in the tunnels, and are also the many sculptures and reliefs throughout the mine. The wood was applied to shield the walls and ceilings created from salt, which is the reason there was no forest near Wieliczka inside the 15th century.
You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers from the mine. They are like glass however are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt which were dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was placed in the UNESCO World Heritage list plus the historic city centre of Krakow. It really is one of the oldest mines on earth.
The oldest document confirms its existence extends back to 1044. The mine site comes with the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle along with the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.
4. The Mine Has for Chapels
The circumstances from the mines weren’t the most effective. So, the miners created four chapels to pray in. The mine could be the only 1 having an underground church in Europe.
One of the chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, the most impressive area of the salt mines. It took over 30 years for three men to finish the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are executed today on the occasion in the name day of St. Kinga and yuletide. Gleam large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, to also see several of the chandeliers making use of their rock salt crystal.
5. In the center Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated a 3rd of Poland’s Income
The income from salt mining accounted for another of the salary of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and it was called “White gold”.
In that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, and that’s why nowadays, the definition of “salary” is used to explain earnings.
Because of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This designed a fortune for families with names growing out of salt.
6. The Mines have several Unique Machinery and Structure
There are the world’s largest mining machines made of wood, a horse treadmill in the 17th century and the horn of miners in the miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Within the 17th century, the initial horse was exposed to the salt mine.
The few things from the mine that weren’t manufactured from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and some sculptures created from wood. Salt is an excellent preservative and lots of tools and apparatus are still in excellent.
7. Hot Air Ballooning and Horseriding Have Occurred from the Mine
A warm air balloon was lifted 65 feet up for four minutes in 2014. However, there isn’t any proof of that online outside their website.
Also, activities have happened from the mines, for example soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas could be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and also concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The lowest part of the mine is 1073 feet underground as well as the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The best path to the mines is the tourist route, which allows you to start to see the attractiveness of the mine as well as the most critical areas of it. The distance is 3.5 kilometres as well as the depth you’ll reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks within the mine possess a dull grey look; however, in certain batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.
9. The Mines Happen to be Featured in Culture
In 1995, Preisner’s Music, a selection of film music by Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia from the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in america, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured within a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
Within the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land from the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured because Land of the Moloch. The mines have appeared on multiple editions of the reality show; The astounding Race, The astonishing Race Australia 1 and much more.
10. Breath Healthy Air Within your Visit
The environment inside the Wieliczka salt mine is provided for free from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. Visiting them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies and in addition it helps cure a hangover.
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