By Debi Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com
You may not consider a salt mine an exciting site, but I’ll swear otherwise. Here are four extraordinary salt mines open to visitors.
Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland, earned one of the 12 spots on the very first UNESCO World Heritage list. Its operations date back to the 13th century, making it one of the most historic and famous salt mines. The mine reaches so deep the Eiffel Tower could easily fit. The complex sprawls over nine levels, but tourists descend only three levels.
Tours begin with a walk down 380 stairs to the first level, about 210 feet underground. They cover nearly two miles on winding passageways and 800 stairs, but an elevator lifts you back to the surface.
Everything, including the tunnel walls, floors, sculptures, and crystal decorations, is salt, except for the wooden supports. You see dull gray chambers where salt sculptures tell stories: some historical, religious, or quirky, like gnomes. One room contains figures depicting the legend of St. Kinga.
Centuries ago, working underground wasn’t always safe, so the miners created chapels for prayer. The stunning Chapel of St. Kinga includes chandeliers that look like glass, but are giant rock salt crystals that have been dissolved and reconstructed. Three men worked more than 30 years to create this immense sanctuary, removing approximately 20,000 tons of salt.
The salt mine is free from bacteria, viruses, and pollutants and provides health benefits. Many visit the private spa and wellness facilities for therapeutic purposes.
Hallstatt, Austria Salt Mine: Many years ago, I visited the cliffside village of Hallstatt, in the heart of the Alps. Visitors ride a steep funicular to the mine entrance perched high on a mountain overlooking the tiny lakeside hamlet. Before entering, guests don denim jumpsuits and sit down to ride the miner’s slide to lower depths — a big surprise, but great fun.
Salt mining in Hallstatt dates back more than 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest salt mining sites in the world. Guided tours include the underground salt lake. Tourists straddle a bench attached to a small train to return to the surface. The Hallstatt salt mines offer visitors a glimpse into the area’s history, natural scenic beauty, and one of the most breathtaking Austrian villages.
While in Bogota, Columbia, I visited the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, one of Colombia’s most famous and unique attractions. This remarkable cathedral lies within a former salt mine. The miners built the first chapel in the 1930s and dedicated it to the patron saint of miners. Over time, workers expanded the chambers, creating a serene place of worship, like a traditional Roman Catholic church with a dome, nave, and stations of the cross.
Visitors gradually descend a dark, downward-sloping walkway before the sanctuary opens and leads to chambers displaying artistic sculptures and colorful illumination. The cathedral, a fusion of art, religion, and geology, serves as a religious site and tourist attraction. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors come to reflect and pray, especially during the Holy Week before Easter.
The only salt mine in the U.S. open to the public is Strataca, located in Hutchinson, Kansas. The sprawling salt mine rests within one of the world’s largest rock salt deposits. A long, 90-second elevator ride transports you down 650 feet to the former work area. Don’t worry about getting claustrophobic; visitors enter a wide-open space after the elevator ride.
Self-guided displays and video stations explain the mining techniques since the 1923 opening. Two trains give rides through the mine’s older, more confined areas. The driver narrates, speaking about the challenges of working underground. The dry air creates an excellent underground storage facility. The movie industry sends many films, props, and costumes for safeguarding, seen on tour. Although Strataca doesn’t quite measure up to the more artistic mines, it’s still fascinating.
Visit www.bylandersea.com to read more of local travel writer Debi Lander’s stories and travel tips.
Photo courtesy Debi Lander
Chapel of St. Kinga.
