1-158-526 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

Mining for rock salt, c1890. Miners being lowered down a shaft on rope slings to begin their shift in the salt mine at Wieliczka, Galicia, Poland. The mine is the oldest operational salt mine in the world, having been worked since the 13th century, and consists of 300 kilometres of galleries and some 3000 underground chambers. The salt produced is of very high purity.