Seegrotte, Austria

The Austrian town of Hallstatt can boast not only one of the most mysterious and frightening mines in the world, but also a unique natural attraction, the largest underground lake in Europe. The lake and the mine wear one name – Zeegrotte. This unique object was created by man and irresistible forces of nature, so it deserves attention of all tourists without exception. Development of mines began in the 19th century, there was an active mining of gypsum.

After 60 years, when the field of the mine was flooded, an amazingly beautiful lake of impressive scale has eventually formed there. During the World War II, the abandoned mine was used to store precious historical relics, so locals had to pump all the water out of the caves. However, they couldn’t overcome the forces of nature and eventually mines were flooded again. Every year, this amazing attraction is visited by more than 250,000 people. Tourists are offered to stroll through the maze of tunnels and have a wonderful boat ride along the huge underground lake.

The upper tiers of the mine have been converted into a museum; they store a very interesting exhibition about the life and work of miners. Lower tiers outside of the flood zone have retained their dark charm, so they’re not recommended to people who are afraid of the dark. Shimmering light gives special mystique and mystery to mines, and in some areas it’s almost absent, so visitors will have an opportunity to plunge into total darkness for a few minutes. Next - Kirunavara