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Wieliczka Salt Mine is in the capital of scotland – Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies within the Krakow metropolitan area. From your 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 to be created from underground brine, it’s then pumped to the surface and become pure evaporated salt.

The mines are now the state run 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 in these top 10 fascinating facts.

1. Wieliczka Salt Mine has ended 700 Years
A brief history of the Wieliczka Salt mine dates back for the thirteenth century. Brine following up to the surface have been collected and processed for its sodium chloride content.

King Casimir II the truly amazing 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.

In the time of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug and various technologies were added, for example the Hungarian horse treadmill. During Wwii, the Germans used the mine being an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.

2. Most of The Mine Interior is constructed of Salt

It is a salt mill, in fact. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, as well as crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. After you go to the mines, you are able to touch something to feel.

You will find wooden beams inside the tunnels, and so are the a large number of sculptures and reliefs throughout the mine. The wood was utilized to protect the ceilings and walls created from salt, which explains why there was no forest near Wieliczka inside the 15th century.

You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers within the mine. They are like glass however are actually giant salt crystals from rock salt that have been 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 is among the oldest mines on the planet.

The oldest document confirms its existence goes back to 1044. The mine site also may include 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 top. 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, one of the most impressive the main salt mines. It took over many years for several men to perform the chapel removing approximately 20,000 tonnes of salt.

Holy masses are performed even today for the occasion of the name day’s St. Kinga and Christmas. Additionally there is a large salt statue in honour of St. Kinga, where one can also see a portion of the chandeliers using their rock salt crystal.

5. In the centre Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated another of Poland’s Income
The income from salt mining accounted for a third of the wages 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 employed to describe earnings.

As a result of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This made a fortune for families with names growing from salt.

6. The Mines have several Unique Machinery and Structure
You’ll find the world’s largest mining machines created from wood, a horse treadmill through the 17th century and also the horn of miners from the miner’s brotherhood from 1534. Within the 17th century, the initial horse was brought to the salt mine.

The few things within the mine that weren’t made from salt were buckets, winches, mining tools and a few sculptures manufactured from wood. Salt is an excellent preservative and many tools and apparatus remain in great condition.

7. Hot Air Ballooning and Sailing Have Took Place from the Mine
A classy air balloon was lifted 65 feet off the floor for four minutes in 2014. However, there’s no proof that online outside their site.

Also, sporting activities have taken place within the mines, such as soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas might be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and even concerts.

8. The Mine is Deep
The best section of the mine is 1073 feet below ground and also the total whole mine tunnel is 178 miles.

The simplest option to the mines will be the tourist route, which lets you start to see the appeal of the mine along with the most significant parts of it. The gap is 3.5 kilometres as well as the depth you’ll reach is 135 meters.

Most rocks inside the mine use a dull grey look; however, in most 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 compilation of film music by Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner was recorded by Sinfonia Varsovia within the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the US, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured inside a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.

Inside the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land from the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured because Land with the Moloch. The mines have appeared on multiple editions of a reality show; The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race Australia 1 and much more.

10. Breath Healthy Air In your Visit
The air in the Wieliczka salt mine is provided for free from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. A visit to them can relieve people being affected by respiratory diseases and allergies you’ll take pride in helps cure a hangover.

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