
Tour of the Underground Soledar
• Tour of the Underground Soledar

The salt from ancient times is a constant companion of man. This is now familiar to us mineral in some historical periods prized as gold and possession brought wealth and power. And all because, until then, certain salt production was a manual and time-consuming process. In today's world of salt mining has long been mechanized, it is performed on a large scale and is worth a penny.
In Ukraine, a major salt producing company is a state enterprise "Artomsol", has extensive manufacturing facilities in Soledar Donetsk region. In addition to the current production, there also exists a small and at the same time a unique site, accessible to tourists. There we are today and have a look.
In 1880 at the Donbass near the village Bryantsevka large underground salt deposit was discovered. Already in the next year was put into operation the first mine began commercial production of salt. This event actually marked the beginning of the company "Artomsol" and the development of the current Soledar. Its present name, the company is named after FA Artem. Now SE "Artomsol" - the largest enterprise for production and sale of salt in Central and Eastern Europe: the products are delivered to 22 countries.
The company is capable of producing more than 7 million. Tons of salt per year. In Soviet times, "Artomsol" makes up 40% of all-union production of rock salt.
Artiomovskiy deposits of salt extraction takes place at a depth of 200-300 m. For more than a hundred years the system formed workings length of about 300 km, has produced more than 250 mln. Tons of salt, void volume exceeded 110 million cubic meters. meters. Despite the large amount of workings, the currently developed only 3% of salt, which is present in the deposit. So Soledar salt reserves will suffice for a long time. In one of the exhaust openings located underground compartment speleosanatorium "Salt symphony", which is the treatment of respiratory diseases. At the same time there can restore the health of up to 100 people. It also conducted guided tours and there is even an underground museum of the salt industry. Tourist site takes on the strength of a couple of kilometers.
The beginning of 2014. Upon arrival at the destination we were met by one of the many headgears, which are scattered on the Donbas, and the inscription "GP Artemsol" above the entrance.

From the first steps it is felt that there is still a going concern and not a developed tourist attraction


The descent into the tourist zone going through the shaft 3 bis, which now serves as a vent. Tourist level is at a depth of 288 m. The shutter speed is 3 to 75 m / s, and in just a minute and a half we already find ourselves at the bottom. During the descent ears pop.

Ruddvor and mine cages. Himself bore almost the entire height has obdelku of iron tubing.


Walls of the salt. A set of salt. Paul (suddenly!) Is also made of salt. Such a huge salt, in which you can walk.

salt deposits beginning to emerge 250 million. Years ago from the salt deposits of the shallow bays of the ancient sea, which was on the site of the present Soledar. Walls and ceilings of developments like covered waves - so unusual looks salt formation in cross section. Each layer was formed approximately 100 thousand. S.

In the tourist area and speleosanatory can see a number of sculptures and bas-reliefs from the salt created by local craftsmen. For example, the patron of miners - Good Shubin. AS letters - logo "Artomsoli".

capacity (thickness) of the horizon in this place - 30 m.

The main entrance to the underground part speleosanatorium:

I otkovyryat couple of pieces of salt from the walls and tried to taste - salt was delicious and clean. In general, however, say that the salt from local deposits can be packaged in bags almost immediately without purification.

Analogue palm Mertsalova also created out of salt:

Entrance to the museum of the salt industry. Bricks around the door are made of salt crystals, and have a dynamic backlight, constantly changing color. The museum itself we do not go, there is nothing really interesting there. It is better to see how the speleosanatory.

for show entrance to speleosanatory:

New Year's Remains:

The temperature of the workings is constantly in the range of about 15 ° C.

Lovely.

generation, are in an array of rock salt are completely dry. Water - the main problem of salt deposits. If you do not require additional strengthening and well-kept rock pressure, then in contact with water, they begin to break down rapidly in the dry salt mines. Therefore waterproofing then pay special significance.
The beauty of Soledar that There is a well-preserved footprints from the actual extraction of salt: walls and arches carved with characteristic patterns of tunneling machines.

This is the deepest toilet, which I saw

compartment rest patients. Over the bed are shuttered.

Local improvement:

Another long development, which can not only relax but also to have a good time:

Coffee:

In the development, which on the 30th photo fenced grid, the transformer is:

So look Sleeps:

There is literally everything

will be satisfied even fans of Alla. Once Diva down to the local salt mine and since that memorable day were these pictures:

Like a layer cake:

And most epic place - it's a camera 42 having a height of 27 m and 100 m in length.

On the walls and in the end noticeable characteristic traces from chisels roadheader. The camera was developed by repeated penetration layers from top to bottom. By quantity roundels in the end you can easily calculate the number of passes harvester (two roundels = 1 passage).

In general, such cameras in Soledar a lot, but only two are open to tourists. The opposite side of the chamber 42:
