10 Facts About The Mind-Blowing Salt Mine in Yekaterinburg.

Hundreds of feet below a Russian city is something so trippy and mind-blowing, it’s hard to believe it’s actually real. What was once a salt mine is now a beautiful , psychedelic underground cave. The following are 10 facts about this captivating salt mine in Russia:

• The tunnels of the Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg are naturally patterned with colourful swirls and stripes.
• The walls and ceilings of the tunnels of the Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg have patterns mainly ranging from red, orange, yellow, cream and white in colour.
• The Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg is a mostly deserted salt mine found underneath Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth largest city.
• The Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg can be found at a depth of 200 metres (650 feet) below ground.
• Generally the Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg is off-limits to the public. Although, a permit from the government can be obtained to gain access.
• The tunnels of the Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg are wide, some reaching greater than 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) in length.

• The Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg is dangerous to journey through, due to the potential of tunnels caving in and gas leaks from hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon dioxide.
• The Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg is rich in the mineral of carnallite, containing magnesium and potassium, that is often used as an ingredient in plant fertiliser.
• The Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg became more well known in 2014, after photographer Mikhail Mishainik revealed its beauty via his photographs.
• The atmosphere of the Salt Mine of Yekaterinburg is filled with immensely dry salty air, causing significant thirst for any visitors that may venture into its depths.