Surreal Places To Visit Before You Die: 9) The Salt Cathedral in Colombia

First it was daylight, then darkness. Gradually a multicolored phosphorescent light breaks through and illuminates the walls of Zipaquirá Salt Mine, a monumental piece of architecture carved by hand mining and converted into a temple of beauty.

Before entering, the first thing you see is the flag plaza where is the sculpture of the Virgin of Guasá (meaning salt and water), patron saint of miners who have their feet is a miner. In the Ceremonial Plaza are also the Cardinal Cross, the mining monument, bell tower and water sources.

This portentous salt mine is located in the town of Zipaquirá, department of Cundinamarca, just 48 miles from Bogota. It is embedded in the Cerro del Zipa (maximum Indian chief), at 2,652 meters above sea level and has an average temperature of 14 º C.

In 1995, the new headquarters of the Salt Mine was opened, given the instability of the first mine. This new building is 180 meters underground. To build the mine 250,000 tons of rock salt were extracted. This mine is the largest rock salt reserves in the world.

There is access to three naves: the birth and baptism, of life and death and resurrection, each with an altar.

Each of the naves has sculptures beautifully carved by miners and sculptors among which stands out the Mercy. The Salt Mine pleaded 1st Wonder of Colombia in 2007.

Another major attraction is the Mirror of Water, above a pickle (place for saturation of salt), whose surroundings are illuminated to be reflected in the static water and give a fascinating optical effect which gives the impression of swimming in a vacuum underground.