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Wieliczka Salt Mine is within the town of Wieliczka, southern Poland, which lies inside Krakow metropolitan area. Through 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 produced from underground brine, then it is pumped towards the surface and changed into pure evaporated salt.

The mines are actually the state run Polish Historical Monument and 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 of these top ten fascinating facts.

1. Wieliczka Salt Mine is Over 700 Years
The history in the Wieliczka Salt mine goes back to the thirteenth century. Brine following to the surface had been collected and processed for the 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.

Within the duration of the mine’s running, many chambers were dug as well as other technologies were added, including the Hungarian horse treadmill. During World war 2, the Germans used the mine being an underground facility for war-related manufacturing.

2. The majority of the Mine Interior is Made of Salt

This is the salt mill, in fact. Most tunnels have walls, floors, roofs, and also crystal decorations and statues carved in salt. When you visit the mines, it is possible to touch something to feel.

You can find wooden beams from the tunnels, and are also the dozens of sculptures and reliefs throughout the mine. The wood was used to protect the ceilings and walls manufactured from salt, and that’s why there wasn’t any forest near Wieliczka inside the 15th century.

You will find most stunning crystals hanging from numerous chandeliers from 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 listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list alongside the historic city centre of Krakow. It is among the oldest mines on the globe.

The oldest document confirms its existence dates back to 1044. The mine site comes with the Wieliczka Saltworks Castle along with the nearby Bochnia Salt Mine.

4. The Mine Has for Chapels
The physical conditions within the mines weren’t the most effective. So, the miners created four chapels to hope in. The mine is the only one with the underground church in Europe.

One of many chapels was the Chapel of St. Kinga, probably the most impressive area of the salt mines. It took over three decades 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, which you could also see some of the chandeliers making use of their rock salt crystal.

5. In The Middle Age, Wieliczka Salt Mining Generated another of Poland’s Income
The income from salt mining taken into account a 3rd in the salary of the royal treasury in Poland. Salt was considered a noble metal and it was called “White gold”.

In that time, many transactions were paid using salt and work, which explains why nowadays, the definition of “salary” is utilized to spell it out earnings.

On account of salt income, tenement houses and royal residences were built. This designed a fortune for families with names growing from salt.

6. The Mines have several Unique Machinery and Structure
You can find the world’s largest mining machines made from wood, a horse treadmill from your 17th century along with the horn of miners from your miner’s brotherhood from 1534. From the 17th century, the first horse was taken to the salt mine.

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

7. Heat Ballooning and Horseriding Have Took Place within the Mine
A warm air balloon was lifted 65 feet up and running for four minutes in 2014. However, there is absolutely no evidence that online outside the website.

Also, activities happened in the mines, like soccer games and windsurfing on Subterrain Lake. Some areas may be hired out for formal dinners, weddings, and also concerts.

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

The best route to the mines will be the tourist route, which allows you to start to see the great thing about the mine as well as the most crucial elements of it. The length is 3.5 kilometres and also the depth you are going to reach is 135 meters.

Most rocks within the mine have a 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 inside the Wieliczka mines chapel. Also, in 1999 in the usa, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was featured in a Modern Marvels episode on salt mines.

Inside the Australian television series Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord, the mines were featured since the Land in the Moloch. The mines have also appeared on multiple editions of a reality show; The astonishing Race, The spectacular Race Australia 1 and much more.

10. Breath Healthy Air Within your Visit
The environment inside Wieliczka salt mine costs nothing from bacteria, viruses and pollutants. Visiting them can relieve people suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies looked after helps cure a hangover.

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