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Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by hammock on Monday November 15, 2021 @12:29PM (#29229934)
Off topic, but I visited the Atlas Obscura-worthy “Wieliczka” Salt Mine which is a short drive from Krakow. Incredible place.

I have been to my share of mines and caves but never to a salt mine. This mine is massive and has entire underground lakes and even a chapel, with a beautiful Last Supper relief and altar and chandeliers all hand-carved from the salt walls - by tradesmen no less, not artists. They actually have mass in the chapel every week.

The massive salt deposits were what enabled the Polish kingdom to even be a thing. It was a huge economic boom.

Highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine

Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by credit_guy on Monday November 15, 2021 @01:12PM (#29230507)
This summer I visited the remarkable Slanic mine in Romania [1]. No matter how much you prepare, it's still breathtaking when you get there. The chambers I visited were all about 50 meters tall. You could have football fields in there, bleachers included. I took pictures, but I just don't know how to share them; still, I found this one [2] that gives a sense of the scale.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sl%C4%83nic_mine

[2] https://www.romania-insider.com/planetarium-slanic-salt-mine

Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by coremoff on Tuesday November 16, 2021 @06:53AM (#29239514)
For anyone interested, they do tours in several languages.

Additionally, the tours have two sections - the first half that everyone does, and then they offer you the choice of going back up, or going to the museum area; definitely worth spending the extra time (particularly as it seems few people actually do it, so you'll have a chance to actually speak with the guide in more depth).

I've been twice and would happily go again - couple years ago now, so maybe things have changed.

I really should curate my photos - I took hundreds :)

Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by debacle on Monday November 15, 2021 @01:01PM (#29230330)
What does the air smell like? Is it like being by the ocean? Is the smell stronger?
Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by eatmygodetia on Monday November 15, 2021 @01:07PM (#29230433)
It smells incredibly clean. The air is very pure, apparently, and it's meant to be good for your healthm I noticed this - my cold cleared up while I was there (and started again soon after). There's a slight cave smell, but not really. I don't know what it's like to smell like being by tue ocean, but I don't remember it smelling much like british beaches.
Re:Why salt was so important throughout history (2018) by hammock on Monday November 15, 2021 @02:08PM (#29231259)
It smells pretty clean/normal.

You can lick the walls and they taste like salt.