European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 31, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Transport truck Are used to take Tours through the Many Miles of mine shafts Bach truck holds 25 to 35 people. The vein of the halite crystals appears almost endless when peering into its depth. Another photo shows Cen. Dwight d. Eisenhower looking through a stack of priceless paintings. Guide Joachim Steinmetz Points to a vein of Gold running through the Rock Wall behind him is a Hydro Lic Drill. Trip into the Cave itself is Wei Worth the excursion. The tour begins with a ride to the 1,660-meter level in the miners elevators which travel downward at 26 feet a second. A. A a a. A a. A a a a a once passengers reach this level a diesel transport truck takes them through a Long Cavern to the massive treasure area. The Salt mine now owned by the Kali Calcium and Salt co., a German mining company is Gigantic. In 10q years of Salt mining More than a Hundred Miles of shafts were excavated under the Rhone landscape. Some of these shafts stretched All the Way under the Border of the old German democratic Republic and into what was then West Germany. All together the labyrinth of caves covers 56 Square Miles an area about the size of the City of. Leipzig including All of is suburbs. The excursion truck is equipped with powerful headlights and spotlights which illuminate the Side shafts and the safety areas Cut into the Walls of the mine. While travelling through the mine visitors Seldom get the feeling that they Are under water but at this depth ground water is actually above their Heads. But the air is dry and As a result the old truck trans sort does t rust in the Salty environment. The truck takes visitors Down a serpentine Tunnel system at Points reaching a Grade of 15 percent As to makes its descent to the 2,4 75-foot level. At this depth in 1980, a Large halite Crystal Grotto was discovered which has Smice been declared one of the most Beautiful Salt Crystal displays in the world. The. Grotto 1,485 feet Long and 33 feet wide is Well lit and kept at a constant temperature of 82 degrees. Hanging crystals measure More than 3 feet wide and 66 feet in length and Range in appearance from brightly shining Crystal to Milky White. Geologists estimate that they began building up 15 to 20 million years ago. Much of the Crystal treasure was destroyed in efforts by the East German government to make Money through Sale of the crystals. Only after the fall of the East German regime was the Grotto opened and people tier key Learned that the Beauty of that a Crystal treasure was something to preserve. A copy it it act of 1 a dying in hu�ni4mn, be Maey a it 31-september 6t 1995 if Ripe my Fiat 7