Monuments of Salt in Colombia, Nature, History and Religious Fervor

Zipaquira Salt Church Colombia The Cathedral of Zipaquira and the underground mine of Nemocon are two wonderful places in the Andean central region of Colombia that show the beauty of the nature and the talent of the work of people that they are inhabited this beautiful Colombian region for many years. It are places where they combine the Catholic devotion, the nature, history and to know more about this mineral: the salt.

These formations are been of a well-known phenomenon as re-crystallization that happens when the stone of salt vigua (originally black) it's enters in contact with the humidity of the air. In the Park of the Salt, of the one it’s makes part the temple, the tourist can know like it is the extraction and processing of the chloride of sodium.

The Cathedral of Salt of Zipaquira

In an area of 600 hectares, besides the nature and an ecological footpath, is locate the Museum of the Salmuera, where the visitor can learn how is extracted and processed the salt.

The place has bilingual guides, all they people of the region that don't scant efforts to explain the form in which the Cathedral was built and how the rock finishes seasoning our tables.

However, the most interesting experience takes place inside the temple whose construction required the removal of more than 250.000 tons of stone and where was worked a mine of the mineral.

In the entrance the German doors can be appreciated (it structures wooden that supports the entrance of the tunnel), pattern that, Jorge assures Casteblanco, technical director of the place, it was brought to Colombia by the German scientific Alexander Von Humboldt in 1801.

It is normal to see mining that, as Cyclopes, they open up step for the dimness with their only luminous eye. Few they know it, but under the Cathedral it is even exploited commercially the salt, without this implies any problem for the visitors.

In fact, many of the workers participated in the construction of the temple.

Although most of the looks go toward the sizes of the temple -their main cross it reaches the 16 meters high - let special attention to the saline formations that one comes when beginning the journey.

Also take advantage and visit the historical center that is connected with the park for a corridor footpath.

The world of the salt

Zipaquira Cathedral of Salt in Colombia Zipaquira is a town of narrow streets, where the church and the antennas of mobile or cellular telephony services are the highest structures.

Of not being for the tourist barriers, it would be difficult to imagine that under the green hills it's hides the salt, that treasure with which the Muiscas (native inhabitants) use how currency.

For them, it was a miraculous mineral. They called it grateful because, once away from the tunnel, the black stone was whitened and it grew for action of the air.

The tradition continues, and even today the zipaquireños (people from Zipaquira) give thanks. Of those lands 50 percent of the production is taken out that consumes the country.

A day, 650 tons of stone are taken out of the bowel of the hill of the Zipa. Of them 520 of salt are obtained that finish in the Colombian tables and in the petrochemical and cattle industries.

And it is that this mountain doesn't get tired of producing. In fact, it is the reservation of salt gem most bigger of the world.

Recommendations for tourists

There are two routes from Bogota: The North Freeway straying for the road that goes to Chía and Cajica.

The other one is the Central Highway of the North that goes by Briceño and Zipaquira.

In the Park there is kept guard parking car ($3 dollars the day).

Also from the North Portal of Transmilenio (Bogota) it is possible to take buses that take it to the municipality.

The entrance has a cost of $6 dollars for adults. $3 dollars for children of 4 to 12 years, bigger than 60 and people with incapacities.

Schedules: It is open from 9a.m.to 5 p.m. open the weekends and festive days. It's closes the 4:30 p.m in work days.

Take comfortable footwear and something sheltered (in the Cathedral the temperature is of about 12°C). mascots neither photographic tripods are not allowed.

Read About Nemocon an Underground Marvel in Colombia

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