Tuesday, April 10, 2012

salt of the earth


650 feet under Hutchinson, Kansas - salt deposits formed 275 million years ago when the land was covered by sea

salt discovered in 1887 - salt mining began in 1923 at this site - covers 920 acres

Kansas Underground Salt Museum operates in previously mined areas - this mine produces rock salt mainly for de-icing roads (Chicago is the main customer)

Mike Rowe with Dirty Jobs filmed here in 2006

the only way in and out is elevator - big pieces of equipment have to be sent down in pieces and reassembled

one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas

underground gift shop has great shirts!


Temperature a constant 68 degrees and constant humidity of 45% making it ideal for other uses of the mine area - no bats, no bugs, but you won't believe what else is down here! more later...

take it with a grain of salt

at
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