Sunday, February 1, 2009

SALT MINE TOUR

Yesterday, we went on a great tour of the salt mine in Soledar, a town about 20 kilometers from Artemovsk. In its 100 years of existence, only 2% of the salt has been mined from the area. So, there's no chance of it running out for the next several thousand years.

One particular cavern is so large that, in it, symphonies and soccer games have been held. That cavern is about 300 meters (1,000 feet) below the surface.

We were very fortunate that Vika joined us on the tour and was able to translate what the tour guide said.

Superbowl Sunday... GO Cardinals!!

Darian, happy 9-and-a-half birthday from wintery Ukraine. We got about 5 inches of snow last night and it's blowing cold today.

Trevor, one more month and it'll be your turn to celebrate.

Alexis, you turn three on February 19 and we'll definitely be home for the party!!


With our hard hats on, we prepared to enter the mine via an elevator that would drop us 300 meters into the ground.



Pam next to one of the many statues carved from the salt.



The ceiling of the salt mine. Absolutely beautiful!!



Stephen next to the another salt-carved character.
Stephen on the underground soccer field.

1 comment:

  1. Pam and Stephen, I have been following your blog for a little while and am thrilled that you are adopting Karina. She beams in the pictures with you!

    I find this trip of yours to the Soledar salt mine interesting. Thanks for sharing. My husband's relatives were born in Ukraine, in a town they call Solidiri...I am wondering if it's the town of Soledar you visited!

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