Hallein Salt Mine
Encyclopedia
The Hallein Salt Mine, also known as Salzbergwerk Dürrnberg, is an underground salt
mine located in the Dürrnberg plateau above Hallein, Austria. The mine has been worked for over 7,000 years since the time of the Celtic tribes and earlier. It helped ensure nearby Salzburg, Austria would become a powerful trading community. Since World War I
, it has served as a mining museum, known for its long wooden slides between levels.
Early mining was done by hand and extracted salt rock crystals as a solid. To improve efficiency, fresh water would be pumped into a cavern. After several weeks of absorbing salt from the walls, the water was pumped out to a processing plant in Hallein.
An 1829 treaty between Austria and Bavaria was created since the mine actually crosses under the border into Bavaria. The treaty stipulates that up to ninety Bavarian
farmers are allowed to work in the mine.
In 1969, there were 150,000 visitors to the mine. At that time, the tour covered 2.5 miles (4 km) and went down seven wooden slides.
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
mine located in the Dürrnberg plateau above Hallein, Austria. The mine has been worked for over 7,000 years since the time of the Celtic tribes and earlier. It helped ensure nearby Salzburg, Austria would become a powerful trading community. Since World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it has served as a mining museum, known for its long wooden slides between levels.
Description
There are several named tunnels in the mine, including the Obersteinberg opened in 1450, the Untersteinberg, the Jackobberg, the Rupertsberg, the Wolf Deitrich tunnel and the Dr. Nusko tunnels. They descend all of the way to Hallein.Early mining was done by hand and extracted salt rock crystals as a solid. To improve efficiency, fresh water would be pumped into a cavern. After several weeks of absorbing salt from the walls, the water was pumped out to a processing plant in Hallein.
An 1829 treaty between Austria and Bavaria was created since the mine actually crosses under the border into Bavaria. The treaty stipulates that up to ninety Bavarian
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
farmers are allowed to work in the mine.
Scientific research
There has been scientific research which used ancient human feces found in the older tunnels to determine how resources were shared between cultures.Visiting
There is a 90 minute guided tour which covers 1 kilometer. Visitors put on white coveralls to protect their clothes inside the mine. There is a 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) electric train ride into the mine which leads to two sets of 42 metres (137.8 ft) wooden slides. Visitors straddle two wooden rails and slide quickly down to the lower level of the mine. There is a boat trip across an underground lake before exiting the mine.In 1969, there were 150,000 visitors to the mine. At that time, the tour covered 2.5 miles (4 km) and went down seven wooden slides.
External links
- Official site
- Salzburg Tourist Office – salzburg city tourist board website.