Salzburg+Salt+Mines

=Salzburg Salt Mines= Salzburg has always had the reputation of having to deal with salt. After all, the nickname is "White Gold." That's because salt has always been mined there. The Hallein Salt Mine is the most famous salt mine. The first time that they mined was c. 600 BC, and they didn't stop until July 31,1989. It had been worked on for over 7,000 years. First started by the Celts, the Hallein Salt Mines are a very interesting place. Inside of the salt mine is something you'd never imagine. If you were to pick one word to describe it, it would be unique. Inside, there's a wooden slide to get to the lower level. Also inside, there is a railway that the tourists are allowed to ride on. The railway is 400 meters. Something else very unique is that there is a lake in the inside. There's a boat that you can ride on. Have you ever heard of a lake in a salt mine? The history is pretty interesting too, many of things have happened or had to do with the salt mine. First thing first is that it had been worked on for 7,000 years. All of the mining in the Hallein salt mine was mined by hand, and that took time and hard work. The first time it was mined was c.600 B.C. and that was by the Celts. In 1196 there was a battle called "the battle for white gold." Basically salt used to be so valuable, that they called it white gold. People used to fight over it all the time, hence the name "battle for white gold. Expansion of the mines began during 1315-1450. From then the mines were expanded drastically. The caused production to also increase drastically. In 1542, the production rate annually was 22,000 tons of salt. That must've intrigued people because they then started to want to visit the salt mines. The first visitors came in 1607 and ever since there has been over 5 million of them. Since people started to come and that the mine was so big they had to add that electric railway. The railways we added in 1871. They go from Salzburg to Hallein.  Salt production didn't stop too long ago, the ending was July 31, 1989. Now that it's to an end, its just used for tourism. There are so many visitors that come a day, and each and everyone has to wear white overalls. That's just to give more effect because that's what they used to wear back then. The salt mines have a lot to do with the history and the city, that's why its here. Not only is it a good time touring there, but you get to learn lots about the time back then.