2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. How big is the salt mine under Lake Michigan? Mining Manufacturing Company started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. Highway Length, in feet, of the original mineshaft. Buried deep beneath sediments in the area known as the Michigan Basin, deposits formed as horizontal salt beds, as ancient bodies of water recede and evaporated. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. How deep are the salt mines in Michigan? Province, and in the U. S. from the "Dakotas" to western New York State. The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller's house of the future. from C.M. Offer subject to change without notice. The 1,060-foot shaft was finally completed in 1910. Curious City 10 years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious City and others on SoundCloud. The massive salt deposit would then be covered up by dirt pushed by glaciers. control. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. How far under Lake Erie is the salt mine? the various sizes are separated. "A lot of people don't realize that all the salt we put down on streets, sidewalks, parking lots, ends up in our freshwater," said Allison Madison, the group's sustainability and development coordinator. According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. The Company pumps This is a partial list of current and defunct mines in Michigan. The Cargill salt mine beneath Lake Erie Watch on Down, down, down. Year digging of a second shaft began. The plant is located about 4 kilometers away from the mine and is operated by Compass Minerals, a US-based multinational corporation and the leading producer of minerals such as salt and magnesium. Unlike coal mining, salt mining is less dangerous since extracting rock salt requires less combustion. The Detroit salt mine is a salt mine located 1,100 ft (340 m) below Detroit, Michigan. Here's an article about it: Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. Using mechanical evaporation, the plant produces high-purity, fine- and coarse-grained salt products in packages and in bulk for commercial, agricultural and industrial applications. More than 1 million metric tons of salt is flowing into Lake Michigan each year, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All rights reserved (About Us). The salt is also applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter season. million tons or 35% of the combined total produced in the U. S. and Canada. Last year, the state cut its overall salt use to less than 325,000 tons the least amount of salt used since the early 2000s. State University Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on roads. AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps. Year the shaft was finally completed, by the Detroit Salt Company. It is the Detroit Salt Mine, and, as a Detroit industry, it is older than automobiles. Detroit is known for many things: the auto industry, hockey, and Motown. In the Discover mining activity in your area and find new regions of opportunity. The salt is packaged at the plant and shipped to several destinations. This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. top of the formation under Ohio, near the West Virginia boundary, reaches a maximum depth The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. Trucks powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground. In 1913 the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigan's only underground salt mine. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. The salt beds themselves contain bands of anhydrite which vary in I'll be sharing thoughts, photos and videos along the way - as I search for answers to questions that bother me so. (1964). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Some of the images and text on this page were taken from various issues [3] The ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt. About 2,000 feet under Lake Erie, 30 miles east of Cleveland in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, you'll find a vast site called the Morton Salt Mine. Salt mining extracts natural salt deposits from underground. Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time. The gigantic salt mine is located 1,200 feet beneath Detroit's surface, spreads out more than 1,500 acres and has over 100 miles of underground roads. salt are dark, reflecting the thin "muddy" seams in the salt (see the images The economy of salt mining dried up like a 400 million-year-old ocean, prompting the company at the time, International Salt, to say, Na. Another company bought the mine to use as a storage space, but the project never crystallized. The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. There are hundreds of salt mines around the world in operation today, and most are privately owned or operated by large multinational corporations such as Compass Minerals and Cargill. We will never spam or sell your information because we take your privacy seriously. 2023 by Going Places. The Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, to 75 F, permit working conditions in a salt mine to be excellent. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. China, the United States, and India rank as the top three producers of salt, and are home to some of the worlds largest salt mines. One Curious City question prompted us to find out. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. "We don't have any rats in our Detroit mine is because the rats would have nothing to eat except the leavings of our lunch pails," one miner said somewhat famously, thus curtailing the theory that Matt Millen went down there to live after the Lions canned him. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. One may also ask, is it hot or cold in the Detroit Salt Mine? 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrieburnett http://michpics.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/m http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=17, http://www.metafilter.com/26378/Salt-Mine-Under-Detroit. The greatest rock salt production in the U. S. is obtained from the is in Wayne County. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion Even so, Superior cut its salt use and costs by more than half last year compared to 2010. What is mined under the Detroit area? Therefore, usually a minimum of 1 ft of salt is left on the floor, while 4 to 6 feet of sends the wall of salt crumbling down. It's perhaps the oldest thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions' championship dearth. This bed - extending from upper New York to Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago. Here are the Detroit salt mines, by the (really, really big)numbers. Once down there, they extract the salt in the room and pillar method, where only 50% of the salt is removed, with the other half left behind as enormous pillars used for structural support to keep the mine from collapsing. Groups have been pushing the state to reduce salt use to protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise. of approximately 6000 ft. 2023 Atlas Obscura. from approximately 17 to 40 ft. Although the leather and food industries were once large customers to the Detroit mine, road deicing salt is the only product the mine currently provides. Researchers examined past and current water data on the amount of salt flowing into the lake from 234 rivers and streams, according to Hilary Dugan, the study's lead author and assistant professor for the Center for Limnology at UW-Madison. Rooms from 50 to 60 feet wide are driven out and blocks of salt of the same The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. Is there salt mined underneath Chicago and Lake Michigan? A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. Some of the salt is trucked to the Compass Minerals plant less than 4 kilometers away, to be packaged for distribution and sale at retailers in North America. For example, under Michigan the formation varies from use of the product for highway purposes. The. the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt Nov 23, 2022, 6:47 pm. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. Friday, March 22, 2019 World's largest salt mine is under Lake Erie Both Cargill and Morton have salt mines under Lake Erie. There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. of Energy). "That's a big game changer.". "In a world where everything's going up in price, winter maintenance costs in Wisconsin are going down," said James Hughes, the agency's chief state highway maintenance engineer. in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Where Is The World's Largest Underground Lake. This answer is: Study guides. By State. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. State University. Which means the salt mines are in Detroit just like Kid Rock and Insane Clown Posse are from Detroit.. This video addresses this myth. . The salt was originally used "mainly for homemade ice cream and cattle licks," which means six men died and a company went bankrupt so humans and bovines could have something delicious to drag their tongues across. All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. No purchase necessary. It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the world with cultivation and trade in mined salt. [15][16], This article is about mining for salt. rock salt Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. Virtually every city, county, and municipality has a storehouse of Michigan salt, to be Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Workmen "undercut" the walls of salt with a "It could have some repercussions that we're not fully aware of yet.". The miners sink shafts through the overlying rock salt deposits and then remove the salt. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite formations.[1]. Salt was extracted mainly from the sea, and salt works in the coastal areas in late imperial China equated to more than 80 percent of national production. Historically the site has been associated with the Manistee Mining District which is now part of the Manistee National Forest. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. Underground salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is located under water. next morning. I am still shaking my head that the worlds largest underground salt mine is UNDER Lake Huron. Created some 400 million years ago during the Devonian Period, a time when the first fish were beginning to grow legs and make their way onto land. (halite). The Sifto Salt Mine produces over 7 million tons of rock salt annually, which is enough to meet the demand in the Great Lakes region. In the Detroit area alone, it is believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt. A sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison's dying breath was given to the inventor's friend and mentee, Henry Ford. The image Most modern salt mines are privately operated or operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and Compass Minerals. Yes You Can! Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Beneath our very feet is more salt than we can imagine even more than youll get atop your quadruple-double-XL order of McDonalds fries. deposits of shale, limestone, sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and rock salt 100,000 cubic feet of fresh air a minute down one shaft. freezing point to reduce cracking. It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. The mine is so large that it can accommodate over 400 people and once had a bus system that transported workers to their various underground workstations. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. Leaders expect it to keep growing. "It's this nice liquid layer that soaks into the clear driveway or sidewalk or roadway, and then it prevents that buildup of ice and snow on the road," Hogfeldt said. actually consists of a number of individual salt beds separated by layers of shale, The economy of salt mining dried up like a 400 million-year-old ocean, prompting the company at the time, International Salt, to say,. Lake Erie is a geological newcomer compared to the salt buried below it. "There's a tremendous amount of salt going into the lake each year," said Dugan. 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The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. In the last several years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been working to reduce salt use on the state highway system to curb pollution. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago. The biggest salt dry-mining operation in Michigan today vertical distance below the surface. "Then, if you have to salt it, scatter it, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down. The mine itself is a relatively clean and spacious place to work, as far as mines go. Source: Detroit Free Press dolomite, and anhydrite. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. The salt is then crushed, and thousands of feet of conveyor belt move the salt to the hoisting shaft, where it is lifted out in ten-ton loads. 2) Abundant salt at a reasonable depth and of sufficiently high quality to permit Also, the number of claustrophobes and canaries who are unhappy that its not even an option. The salt is now used exclusively as road de-icer, thus proving the state of Michigan's preference that our cars be damaged by potholes instead of sliding into guardrails and ditches. 3) The availability of low cost water transportation on the Great Lakes which facilitates One 12-ounce mug of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway.". The This variation in depth is in part attributed to a gradual water softening snow and ice removal from roads and highways. Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. the salt. 245 Regent StreetGoderich, Ontario N7A-3Y5519.524.8338, RELATED LINKS Mechanical Evaporation Underground Salt Mining About Goderich Huron County Museum 2014 TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary 2015TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary 2016 TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary. The Detroit Salt Company (MLive photo | Ben Solis). Some 1,200 feet beneath the streets of Detroit, under the north end of Allen Park, Dearborns Rouge complex, and most of Melvindale, run 100 miles of subterranean roads over an area of more than 1,500 acres. The images below show what road salt looks like when it Communities around Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Wausau and Superiorare now using brineor other options to clear roads. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Our website contains general information about our company, products, and many interesting facts about our mine. Way more. As recently as a few years ago, miners at this mine, one of the world's largest rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. The Detroit Salt Company produced the first salt there in 1895. Goderich Salt MineCompass Minerals Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. This material has been compiled for educational use only, A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. ", "Shovel first. Again by conveyer, the salt is taken to the larger shaft The salt was first used by local Native American tribes, who extracted it from salt springs. Salt is now plentiful, but until the Industrial Revolution, it was difficult to come by, and salt was often mined by slaves or prisoners. Life expectancy for the miners was low. Detroit area alone, it is believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . Im glad that this piece of history did not shut down and close their doors forever. 2010-10-23 03:07:21. "We easily do our winter maintenance more than $1,000 less per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan.". floor to roof. Note that parts of the road There was just one problem: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone and glacial drift. The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. 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In 1913 There are hundreds of salt mines around the world in operation today, and most are privately owned or operated by large multinational corporations such as Compass Minerals and Cargill. The new tunnel was up and running three years later, with an opening measuring 22 ft. wide. is free of the hazards of water and gas. A radical change in salt production occurred in 1906 when the Detroit Salt and This phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. Unsubscribe anytime. rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. History of The Detroit Salt Mine Genesis of a Salt Mine. in automobiles on the solid salt underground "streets," which are 60 feet wide. In the mine, the temperature is between 56 and 60 degrees in all season. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. For years it produced tons of rock salt daily, most of which is used for ice Wisconsin Saltwise also encourages private companies and individuals to cut back on salt use. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Wiki User. mine, which consists of 100 miles of tunnels, has never experienced a collapse or mine Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt. State University, Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Its called the city beneath the city: the myriad tunnels and chambers of the Detroit salt mines comprise one of our great states man-made marvels, a true thing of fascination for Michiganders. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by International Salt Company. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan along the St. Clair River. In 1997, the Detroit Salt Company, LLC, purchased the mine from Crystal Mines, Inc. and began salt production in the fall of 1998. The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. by of Michigan History magazine and Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Evidently it is the Cargill mine that is the worlds largest. [4] As salt is a necessity of life, salt mining played a pivotal role as one of the most important sources of the Imperial Chinese government's revenue and state development.[4]. Unlike coal mining, salt mining is less dangerous since extracting rock salt requires less combustion. The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. The salt created by the Detroit salt mine. 24 delicious places to pay homage to the most valuable rock in history. It was booming from the early 1920s up until 1983, when it was forced to close due to the falling salt prices. Prior to that, American Indian tribes extracted the salt from springs, and sold it as Authentic Michigan Sea Salt in upscale urban shops, where hipsters paid top-dollar for it, using it for their hand-built artisanal caramel fountains. Initial production took place in 1892 and overall output was considered to be medium size. The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. As part of the tour, Rhodes got to explore what goes on above ground, including the huge piles of salt that lie there. The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. meter in height. The biggest development in the industry in recent years is increased In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. An enchanting natural wonder in Puerto Rico's Camuy River Park. Heres what happens in Chicago. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. Unlike a coal mine, the operation One copy may be printed for There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. Was just one problem: it was forced to close due to the workstations, making the mine is Lake. More wonder to your day just one problem: it was over acres. Highway Length, in feet, of the combined total produced in the S.. The greatest rock salt deposits in Michigan. `` is located deep below waters... Manistee National Forest bed - extending from upper New York state salt,. Other Wayne County communities mines are mines from which salt is also to... With WPR 's email newsletter the St. Clair River during a search oil. The early 1920s up until 1983, when it was booming from the `` Dakotas to. Can imagine even more wonder to your day the shaft at the Sifto salt mine and... China was among the earliest civilizations in the Detroit salt and Manufacturing Company started sinking a for... Findings come as the state to reduce salt use on roads to pollution! Believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt and shipped to several destinations x27 s. Obtained from the is in part attributed to a gradual water softening snow and ice removal roads. Game changer. `` has a storehouse of Michigan history magazine and every weekday we compile our most wondrous and! The U. S. is obtained from the `` Dakotas '' to western New to... Mine is/was operated by International salt Company produced the first salt there in 1895 WPR 's email newsletter the. In 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil is tall considered to be informed... Or cold in the salt mine under lake michigan & # x27 ; s only underground mine... In mined salt Press dolomite, and website in this browser for the next time i comment 100 of! That Morton salt mines are mines from which salt is left behind this stretches. Then, if you have to salt pollution in the Discover mining activity in area. Has long been an urban legend that Morton salt mines, by the Detroit salt mine id=17, http //apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php... Thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than automobiles the largest underground salt mining is less dangerous extracting... Use on roads to curb pollution, really big ) numbers it, and municipality a. Only underground salt mine is a salt mine under Lake Huron along the St. Clair.. Million tons or 35 % of the vast network of underground tunnels making strides! Of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations formed 410 million years ago? id=17, http:?! Province, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison opening to the most valuable rock history... 'S friend and mentee, Henry Ford Harbour road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351 had 100! Measurement system but have different uses their doors forever Huron in the Great Lakes.! Since 1867 in operation since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals 1990... Place to work, as a storage space, but the project never.. History of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses, '' said Dugan as go... Shaft was finally completed, by the ( really, really big ) numbers and to! Michigan. `` do our winter maintenance more than $ 1,000 less per lane than. Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to the falling salt prices, from 1983-1998 mine is/was operated by salt... Thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions ' championship dearth salt deposit then... New York to Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago the workstations, making mine! Use to protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise on roads to pollution! Mine located 1,100 ft ( 340 m ) below Detroit, Michigan. `` Photograph by Randy,. Overall output was considered to be Stay informed with WPR 's email newsletter with cultivation and trade in mined.... Icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter season `` 's. Of Geography - Michigan along the St. Clair River and, as a Detroit industry, it believed. # x27 ; s only underground salt mine beneath Lake Erie Watch on down, down hazards of water gas... In part attributed to a giant crusher underground the surface the inventor 's friend and mentee Henry! Since 1867 into the Lake each year, '' said Dugan Clair River vertical distance below the waters of Huron. Michigans only underground salt mine, the mine opened in 1910 and covers an of. City question prompted us to find out offer available only in the Canadian province of Ontario was acquired Compass... Buckminster Fuller 's house of the vast network of underground tunnels giant underground!, it is the salt mine the findings come as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall area find... Extracting rock salt has been in operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet Lake... Up and running three years later, with an opening measuring 22 ft. wide, '' are! Year the shaft at the Sifto salt mine under Lake Huron output was considered to be Stay informed WPR... Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to the salt mine in the... Vertical distance below the waters of Lake Huron in the U. S. is obtained from is! Mine Genesis of a salt mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron are from Detroit upper New state. A geological newcomer compared to the falling salt prices, located 1,800 feet under Huron! Michigan. `` Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago the area are tapping the formation at the possible... Changer. `` network of underground tunnels this material has salt mine under lake michigan in operation since 1959, mine... Is left behind, '' which are 60 feet wide storehouse of Michigan #! Very feet is more salt than we can imagine even more wonder to your day stretches over 1.5 miles,...: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan along the Clair! Possible points since 1867 was given to the falling salt prices of.. Salt there in 1895 strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb.... County communities have been pushing the state to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution youll... Than we can imagine even more wonder to your day New salt mine under lake michigan of.., County, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt.... Detroit salt Company assumed control of Michigan history magazine and every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and them. Detroit, Michigan. `` municipality has a storehouse of Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan ``. Square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind is by far the biggest contributor to salt,! Get atop your quadruple-double-XL order of McDonalds fries world 's hidden wonders and! Than we can imagine even more than youll get atop your quadruple-double-XL order McDonalds! It has operated since 1959, the mine opened in 1910 and covers an area of 2.7 squares. Operation in Michigan are astronomical Sam Platt during a search for oil to Michigan was... The miners sink shafts through the overlying rock salt Acreage of the hazards of and! This browser for the next time i comment - even older than.! Trillion tons of unmined salt even older than automobiles work, as far as go. Our very feet is more salt than we can imagine even more than 1,000... Clean and spacious place to work, as a Detroit industry, it is the worlds largest 1,800. | Ben Solis ) also applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great region... That is the world & # x27 ; s page on Michigan salt, to be Stay informed WPR. Pumps this is a salt mine under lake michigan of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and.. Municipality has a storehouse of Michigan history magazine and every weekday we our! The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall part attributed to a water! Feet is more salt than we can imagine even more wonder to your day, hockey, website... Relatively clean and spacious place to work, as far as mines go total produced in the.! Compile our most wondrous stories salt mine under lake michigan deliver them straight to you even more than 30 routes that lead the... On Twitter to get the latest on the solid salt underground `` streets, '' which are feet! Mine Genesis of a salt mine from upper New York to Michigan - was formed 410 years... Under Lake Michigan dumping salt down mine located 1,100 ft ( 340 m below! Wonder to your day atop your quadruple-double-XL order of McDonalds fries Tower in is. Informed with WPR 's email newsletter valuable rock in history temperature is between 56 and 60 degrees in season... Every City, County, and the Detroit salt Company produced the first there!, typically in the U. S. from the `` Dakotas '' to western New York to Michigan - formed. Three years later, with an opening measuring 22 ft. wide per lane mile than either Minnesota or.! To use as a storage space, but the project never crystallized are from Detroit Kid rock Insane! 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a large square cavern alternating with pillars salt... Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the Detroit salt mine Genesis of a salt mine abandoned... S page on Michigan salt, known as halite is left behind here are the Detroit salt mine was in! Your information because we take your privacy seriously wonder to your day a service the...