Солотвино

Solotvyno Salt Mine

Useful Information

Location:	Solotvyno, Tiachiv Raion, Zakarpattia Oblast
Open:	All year daily. [2010]
Fee:	Per Session USD 22. [2010]
Classification:	Salt mine Halotherapy
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=22 °C
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Solotvyno.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1359	first written mention of salt works.
1778	first underground mine Christine opened.
1782	underground mine Adalbert opened.
1974	mine museum opened.

Description

Solotvyno is a salt mine which is still operating. It is also used for halotherapy. The underground clinic at Solotvyno salt mine is 300 m below ground level. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people are treated here every year. There is often a waiting list, the clinic is able to have 200 people in the mine at the same time. One third of the patients are children. Patients spend in average 24 days at the facility.

The city has a lot of lakes in the city proper, which are very high in salt (30.3%). They are remains of the mining activities, the salt is washed from the low grade excavation remains and from the ground below, the lakes are rather young, the first appeared only 20 years ago. The largest lake is now 10 ha big. The lakes are used for swimming, the salt rich mud for fango packages, by the locals. The high content of salt is good for skin diseases and arthritis.

The Mine Museum was opened in 1974. It show tools and instruments for underground works, lamps, miner's clothes, old photographs, maps and many other documents.