History Bochnia Salt Mine

entrance sutoris headframe

the mine shafts measure 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) in length @ 330–468 metres in depth below surface, @ 16 levels.

in 2013 mine added unesco world heritage list extension of wieliczka salt mine inscription of 1978.

august passage

the august passage main communication , transportation route in mine. runs east west of mine, connecting in straight line bottom ends of campi , sutoris shafts. @ depth of 176m top of sutoris shaft , 212m counting top of campi shaft. august passage called long stove (piec długi). first part, extending between rabsztyn chute , campi shaft, built in years 1723-1743, in accordance design jan gottfried borlach. great achievements regulate routes in mine ensuring straightening , leveling. result of this, on next decades, august passage able reach length of 3 km (2 mi).

excavated chambers, shafts , passages form underground town, open sightseers. largest of preserved chambers has been converted sanatorium.

ważyn chamber

the ważyn chamber named after name of administrator (podżupek) andrzej ważyński. deepness of chamber, biggest in bochnia salt mine, 248m; length 255m; maximum width 14.4m; , maximum height 7.2m. chamber uses no supporting pillars. salt ważyn chamber extracted 1697 until 1950s. purposes of creating sanatorium these old pits expanded loading-hauling-dumping (lhd) unit machine. these works took place until 1984. them ernest chute 17th century impressively presents on stripped chamber s roof.

the ważyn chamber has specific microclimate, constant temperature between 14–16 °c (57–61 °f), high humidity (about 70%) , favourable ionisation of air saturated sodium chloride , valuable microelements, magnesium, manganese , calcium. air in chamber distinguishes purity. chamber equipped beds: 300 people can sleep here. other parts of ważyn chamber fields playing volleyball, basketball , handball, restaurant, , conference facilities.