Wieliczka Salt Mine is within the capital of scotland – Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies from the Krakow metropolitan area. From the Neolithic times, table salt was produced here from the upwelling brine.
Nowadays, the mine never extracts salt by mining because extraction stopped in 1996. Salt remains manufactured from underground brine, this will make it pumped on the surface and changed into pure evaporated salt.
The mines are the state Polish Historical Monument plus 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 during these top fascinating facts.
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine ends 700 Years
The history with the Wieliczka Salt mine goes for the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface have been collected and processed for the sodium chloride content.
King Casimir II the truly amazing contributed greatly to the growth and development of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This granted the mines many privileges anf the husband took the miners under his protection.
On the period of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug and various technologies were added, like the Hungarian horse treadmill. During Wwii, the Germans used the mine just as one underground facility for war-related manufacturing.
2. The majority of the Mine Interior is made from Salt
This is the salt mill, after all. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and also crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. After you check out the mines, you’ll be able to touch everything to feel.
There are wooden beams from the tunnels, and so are the a large number of sculptures and reliefs across the mine. The wood was adopted to safeguard the ceilings and walls manufactured from salt, which is the reason there was no forest near Wieliczka in the 15th century.
You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers from the mine. They appear like glass but are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt which have been dissolved and reconstructed.
3. Wieliczka is Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1978, the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list plus the historic city centre of Krakow. It’s one of many oldest mines in the world.
The oldest document confirms its existence dates back to 1044. The mine site also includes the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle plus 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 pray in. The mine will be the just one with an underground church in Europe.
One of many chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, essentially the most impressive the main salt mines. It took over thirty years for several men to finish the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.
Holy masses are executed to this day on the occasion of the name day of St. Kinga and Christmas. There’s also a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where one can also see several 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 landed a 3rd in the earnings of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and was called “White gold”.
During that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, which is why nowadays, the word “salary” is used to spell it out earnings.
On account of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This created a fortune for families with names growing out of salt.
6. The Mines have some of Unique Machinery and Structure
There are the world’s largest mining machines created from wood, a horse treadmill from the 17th century along with the horn of miners from your miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Inside the 17th century, the first horse was delivered to the salt mine.
The few things within the mine that weren’t manufactured from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools plus some sculptures made of wood. Salt is a superb preservative and many tools and apparatus are nevertheless in great condition.
7. Hot Air Ballooning and Horseriding Have Occurred in the Mine
A classy air balloon was lifted 65 feet up for four minutes in 2014. However, there is absolutely no evidence of that online outside their site.
Also, athletics have taken place in the mines, like soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas may be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and even concerts.
8. The Mine is Deep
The lowest the main mine is 1073 feet below ground and also the total length of the mine tunnel is 178 miles.
The easiest option to the mines is the tourist route, which enables you to start to see the beauty of the mine along with the most important parts of it. The length is 3.5 kilometres as well as the depth you may reach is 135 meters.
Most rocks in the mine have a very dull grey look; however, in certain batches, the salts look fluffy white. The miners nicknamed this cauliflower.
9. The Mines Have Been 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 america, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured within a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.
In the Australian tv series Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured since the Land with the Moloch. The mines have also appeared on multiple editions of an reality show; The Amazing Race, The astounding Race Australia 1 and others.
10. Breath Healthy Air On your Visit
The air inside the Wieliczka salt mine costs nothing from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. Checking out the them can relieve people experiencing respiratory diseases and allergies and in addition it helps cure a hangover.
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