Wieliczka Salt Mine is within the capital of scotland – Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies inside Krakow metropolitan area. From your Neolithic times, table salt was produced here through the upwelling brine.
Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt is still produced from underground brine, it is then pumped on the surface and transformed into pure evaporated salt.
The mines are a 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 over these top fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine ends 700 Years
The historical past with the Wieliczka Salt mine goes back towards the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface was collected and processed for the sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the truly amazing contributed greatly towards the development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges and he took the miners under his protection.
On the time of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug and various technologies were added, including the Hungarian horse treadmill. During World war 2, the Germans used the mine as an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. The majority of the Mine Interior consists of Salt
This is a salt mill, after all. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and in many cases crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. As soon as you check out the mines, it is possible to touch everything to feel.
You will find wooden beams in the tunnels, and they are the lots of sculptures and reliefs throughout the mine. The wood was applied to protect the ceilings and walls made from salt, which is the reason there was no forest near Wieliczka in the 15th century.
You’ll find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers in the mine. They are like glass however are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt that were dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was indexed by the UNESCO World Heritage list plus the historic city centre of Krakow. It can be among the oldest mines in the world.
The oldest document confirms its existence extends back to 1044. The mine site also includes the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle as well as the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.
4. The Mine Has for Chapels
The circumstances inside the mines weren’t the most effective. So, the miners created four chapels to hope in. The mine will be the only one with an underground church in Europe.
One of the chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, one of the most impressive part of the salt mines. It took over 30 years for three men to accomplish the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are executed even today on the occasion from the name day’s St. Kinga and Christmas. There’s also a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where you can also see several of the chandeliers with their rock salt crystal.
5. In the center Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated a 3rd of Poland’s Income
The wages from salt mining taken into account a 3rd from the income of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and it was called “White gold”.
During that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, which is why nowadays, the phrase “salary” is employed to explain earnings.
On account of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This made a fortune for families with names growing beyond salt.
6. The Mines have Many Unique Machinery and Structure
You will find the world’s largest mining machines manufactured from wood, a horse treadmill from your 17th century along with the horn of miners in the miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Inside the 17th century, the first horse was delivered to the salt mine.
The few things in the mine that weren’t made of salt were buckets, winches, mining tools plus some sculptures made of wood. Salt is a great preservative and several tools and apparatus continue to be in good condition.
7. Hot Air Ballooning and Bungee Jumping Have Took Place inside the Mine
A warm air balloon was lifted 65 feet started for four minutes in 2014. However, there’s no proof of that online outside their internet site.
Also, sports activities happened inside the mines, including soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas can be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, as well as concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The cheapest section of the mine is 1073 feet below ground and the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The easiest approach to the mines may be the tourist route, which enables you to begin to see the appeal of the mine and the most important aspects of it. The length is 3.5 kilometres along with the depth you’ll reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks in the mine have a dull grey look; however, in certain 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 inside the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the usa, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured within a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
Inside the Australian tv series Spellbinder: Land from the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured because Land in the Moloch. The mines in addition have appeared on multiple editions of the reality show; The spectacular Race, The astonishing Race Australia 1 and more.
10. Breath Healthy Air Within your Visit
Air within the Wieliczka salt mine is free of charge from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. A visit to them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies and it also helps cure a hangover.
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