Wieliczka Salt Mine is incorporated in the town of Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies within the Krakow metropolitan area. From 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 remains to be created from underground brine, it’s then pumped to the surface and transformed into pure evaporated salt.
The mines are now the official Polish Historical Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its attraction includes four chapels, an underground lake, historic salt-mining and labyrinthine technology displays.
Find out more about Wieliczka Salt Mine over these top fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine is finished 700 Years
A history with the Wieliczka Salt mine goes for the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface have been collected and processed due to the sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the truly great contributed greatly for the continuing development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges and he took the miners under his protection.
Within the period of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug as well as other technologies were added, including the Hungarian horse treadmill. During Wwii, the Germans used the mine as an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. The majority of the Mine Interior consists of Salt
This can be a salt mill, in fact. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and even crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. After you look at the mines, you’ll be able to touch everything to feel.
You will find wooden beams from the tunnels, and they are the many sculptures and reliefs round the mine. The wood was used to guard the walls and ceilings created from salt, which explains why there wasn’t any forest near Wieliczka within the 15th century.
You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers in the mine. They search like glass but are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt that were dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka is Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was classified by the UNESCO World Heritage list alongside the historic city centre of Krakow. It is one of the oldest mines on earth.
The oldest document confirms its existence dates back to 1044. The mine site includes the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle along with the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.
4. The Mine Has for Chapels
The stipulations in the mines weren’t the most effective. So, the miners created four chapels to wish in. The mine may be the just one with an underground church in Europe.
Among the chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, essentially the most impressive area of the salt mines. It took over thirty years for 3 men to accomplish the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are carried out today for the occasion with the name day’s St. Kinga and Christmas. There’s also a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where one can also see some of the chandeliers making use of their rock salt crystal.
5. At the center Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated one third 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 was called “White gold”.
In that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, and that’s why nowadays, the word “salary” is utilized to explain earnings.
Due to 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 some of Unique Machinery and Structure
You can find the world’s largest mining machines made of wood, a horse treadmill from the 17th century along with the horn of miners from the miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Within the 17th century, the first horse was exposed to the salt mine.
The few things within the mine that weren’t manufactured from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and a few sculptures manufactured from wood. Salt is a wonderful preservative and many tools and apparatus remain in good shape.
7. Heat Ballooning and Horseriding Have Happened in the Mine
A warm air balloon was lifted 65 feet up for four minutes in 2014. However, there is absolutely no evidence of that online outside their internet site.
Also, sporting activities have taken place from the mines, including soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas may be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and in many cases concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The cheapest the main mine is 1073 feet below ground along with the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The simplest route to the mines will be the tourist route, which lets you begin to see the beauty of the mine and also the most important parts of it. The length is 3.5 kilometres along with the depth you’ll reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks from the mine have a very dull grey look; however, in some batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.
9. The Mines Are already Featured in Culture
In 1995, Preisner’s Music, a selection of film music by Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia in the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the united states, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured inside a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
From the Australian tv series Spellbinder: Land from the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured since the Land of the Moloch. The mines also have appeared on multiple editions of your reality show; The spectacular Race, The astounding Race Australia 1 and many more.
10. Breath Healthy Air On your Visit
Air inside Wieliczka salt mine is free from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. A visit to them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies you’ll take pride in helps cure a hangover.
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