Mine sights in Norway
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Royal Silver Mines
The profusion of silver mines in Kongsberg’s hinterland is known collectively as Sølvgruvene. The main shaft of the largest mine plunges all of 1070m into the mountain, to a depth of 550m below sea level. The easiest way to visit the mine is the mine tour that leaves from the signposted Kongsgruvene, 700m from Saggrenda (8km south of Kongsberg along the road to Notodden). It begins with a 2.3km rail ride along the stoll, a tunnel that was painstakingly chipped through the mountain in order to drain water from the mines. Constructed without machinery or dynamite – the rock was removed by heating it with fire, then throwing water on the rock to crack it – the tunnel move…
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Olavsgruva Mine
The Olavsgruva mine is 13km north of Røros. The moderately interesting exhibition is made worthwhile by mine tours, which pass through the historic Nyberget mine, dating from the 1650s. The modern Olavsgruva mine beyond it was begun in 1936. The ground can get muddy and the temperature in the mine is 5°C; bring a jacket and good footwear. To get to the mine, use your own wheels or take a taxi (Nkr450 return).
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Flåt Nikkelgruve
A summer visit to Flåt Nikkelgruve, once Europe’s largest nickel mine with a shaft 440m deep, takes you deep into the earth on a fascinating underground tour that’s not for the claustrophobic. Temperatures down there drop to 5°C so wear warm clothes. It’s 3.3km off the Rv9; the turn-off is around 2km north of Evje.
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Mine No 3
Sign on for a journey deep into Mine No 3. Productive from 1971 to 1996, this was the last shaft to be worked manually, thrusting itself 5.5km deep into the heart of the mountain. The side spurs, from whose veins the coal was hacked, were only 80cm high. You can crawl into one to sense what life at the coal face was really like.
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Evje Mineralsti
Reached via the same road as the nickel mine, Evje Mineralsti covers five small mines for those who aren't satisfied by rocks found by other people. Digging for your own requires a permit which is available at the site or, sometimes, from the information centre in town.
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