Want to feel small? Take a trip down a mine shaft and drive around the internal tunnels of a century-old salt mine. It is like visiting another planet, and you quickly become aware of how dependent you are on others, as well as the basics of light, air, and protection. It is rare for people to see complete black, darkness without light. Your eyes strain to find light where there is none. I found that I could sympathize with poor Gollum, in the dark caves with only fish to eat and his "Precious" to keep him company.This particular mine, in Sondershausen, used to be a primary resource for salt. But through the years it was over-mined, and now they have to fill the cavities to prevent the earth (and the town above) from sinking. Because of the natural property of salt to neutralize toxins, the mine has now become a depository for waste, delivered in bags and used to fill the holes. It has been a remarkable recovery over the years, with its dual purpose helping to rebuild what was there and at the same time help the environment by providing space for toxic waste.
It is impossible to imagine the vastness of the space until you see it. The mine has a full sized theater, bowling alley, and banquet halls that can hold hundreds of people at a time. It is used for conferences, weddings, sporting events and concerts - the acoustics are incredible.
The logistics of working underground are important to understand. The small elevators are the only means of transportation, so every piece of machinery, every candle, every lamp - goes down and stays down. In fact, the vehicles are transported in parts and built down there - when they are no longer functioning, they are stripped of their parts and put to the side. The only thing that comes up after going down are the humans.
After our tour and lunch, I was thankful to reach the surface, and now have such a different understanding of the world that lies beneath us.
