One million people visit Wieliczka Salt Mine so far this year

The millionth visitor was Łukasz from Siedlce, central Poland, who wanted to show the site to his girlfriend.

To mark the millionth pair of feet to step into the mine this year, Łukasz received an invitation to a New Year’s party in the mine’s underground chambers.

He also received a selection of salt-based cosmetics.

Foreigners account for around half the total number of visitors, with those from the UK (50,000), Italy (40,000), Germany (38,000), France (33,000) and Spain (32,000) topping the list.

In 2016 the mine welcomed its one millionth visitor several weeks further into the year, and 1.5 million people visited throughout last year. It is likely that 2017 will see an all-time record number of visitors to the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine was set up in the middle of the 13th century and has remained in operation ever since. Its underground corridors are almost 300 kilometres long.

The mine was opened to tourists at the end of the 18th century. In 1978 it was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. (mk/vb)