Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá |
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Catedral de Sal
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La Creación del Hombre, sculpture by Carlos Enrique Rodríguez
(Based in The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo), Central Barrel vault |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Diocese of Zipaquirá |
| Location | |
| Location | Zipaquirá, Colombia |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1950 |
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Spanish: Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá) is a special Roman Catholic church. It is built deep underground inside a salt mine. This amazing church is located near the city of Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca, Colombia. It is about 200 meters (656 feet) below the surface!
This unique place is a popular spot for tourists and people on a pilgrimage. The church has three main parts inside. These parts represent the birth, life, and death of Jesus. All the statues, decorations, and details are carved by hand from the salt rock itself. You can also see some beautiful marble sculptures.
Many people think the Salt Cathedral is one of the greatest examples of Colombian architecture. It is even called a "Jewel of Modern Architecture." This cathedral is a very important part of Colombia's culture, mining history, and religious heritage.
The Salt Cathedral is a real church where services are held. On Sundays, up to 3,000 people visit it. However, it does not have a bishop. This means it is not an official "cathedral" in the way the Catholic Church usually defines it.
Contents
How the Salt Formed
The salt found in Zipaquirá was created about 250 million years ago. Imagine how old that is! Later, when the Andes mountains were forming, these salt deposits were pushed up above sea level. This is how the huge salt mountains came to be.
Where to Find It
The Salt Cathedral is in Zipaquirá, in the Cundinamarca Department. This city is about 49 kilometers (30 miles) north of Bogota, the capital of Colombia. It sits high up, at 2,652 meters (8,701 feet) above sea level. You can get there by car on National Highway 45A or by taking the Tren Turistico De La Sabana (Savanna tourist train). Zipaquirá is also known for being close to El Abra archaeological site. This site is one of the oldest places where humans lived in the Americas.
A Look at Its History
The pre-Columbian Muisca culture started mining salt here way back in the 5th century BC. Mining salt was one of their most important ways to make a living.
A famous explorer named Alexander von Humboldt visited Zipaquirá in 1801. He wrote about the traditional salt mining methods. He said this salt deposit was even bigger than major salt mines in places like Spain, Switzerland, and Poland. He estimated it had about one million cubic meters of salt! Von Humboldt also suggested better ways to dig for salt. He thought they should use "drift mining" because the salt tunnels were strong and did not need wooden supports. This would save money.
The First Salt Cathedral
Before the big underground church was built, around 1932, the miners carved a small place to pray. They would pray for safety every day before starting their work. In 1950, a much larger project began. This was the first Salt Cathedral. It opened on August 15, 1954. It was dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, who is the patron saint of miners.
This first cathedral had three main sections and a huge cross. Some of the tunnels were actually carved by the ancient Muisca! But because the church was inside an active mine, there were concerns about its safety. So, in September 1992, the authorities had to close it.
The first cathedral was 120 meters (394 feet) long and 22 meters (72 feet) high. It covered an area of 5,500 square meters (59,200 square feet). It had six large columns and could hold up to 8,000 people.
The main section had a giant cross. Lights from below made a large cross-shaped shadow on the ceiling. One side section had the Stations of the Cross and a chapel for the Rosary. It included a statue of the Virgin of Rosary. The other side section showed the birth of Jesus and the baptism of Jesus. There was even a waterfall to represent the Jordan River.
The New Salt Cathedral
After the first cathedral closed, a competition was held to design a new one. The winning design came from Roswell Garavito Pearl. His plan included new ways to enter the church and a different dome design.
Construction of the new cathedral began in 1991. It was built 200 feet (61 meters) below the old one. This amazing new Cathedral opened on December 16, 1995. Its many paths and prayer areas were made by carefully adding to the caves left behind by earlier mining.
The main parts of the new cathedral are:
- The Stations of the Cross: As you enter, there are 14 small chapels. These show the events of Jesus' last journey. Each chapel has a cross and places to kneel, all carved from the salt.
- The Dome: This is at the end of the main path that goes down. From here, visitors can go to other areas, including the main cross chambers and a balcony.
- The Three Naves: These are the three main sections of the church. They are connected by a crack, which represents the birth and death of Christ. You can see copies of famous sculptures like Creation of Adam and Pietá here. Four large round columns represent the Four Evangelists.
The cathedral also has its own electrical generator. There is even a way for vehicles to enter the inner space, but only for emergencies.
The Salt Park
The Salt Cathedral is part of a bigger area called Parque de la Sal (Salt Park). This park also has a museum about mining, mineralogy, geology, and natural resources. The Salt Park covers a large area of 32 hectares (79 acres). Visitors can see art, learn about how mining works, and explore exhibits on geology. There are also educational displays about environmentally friendly mining and sustainable development.
Some of the main places in the park are:
- The Sacred Axis: This is a square with a cross carved from salt. It is 4.2 meters (14 feet) tall.
- The Salt Dome: A special dome made of salt.
- The Mine: You can explore parts of the salt mine.
- The Brine Museum: Here, visitors learn how salt is taken out of the salt rock. You can also see exhibits about the geological studies, engineering, and architecture used to create the cathedral.
- The Reservoir: A water storage area.
- The Forests: Natural areas within the park.
- The Salt auditorium: A place for events and presentations.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Sal para niños
- Nemocón, a nearby salt mine
- Bochnia Salt Mine, in Poland
- Wieliczka Salt Mine, also in Poland
- Khewra Salt Mine, in Pakistan
- Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona, United States
- Grand Roc in Savoie, France
- Chełm Chalk Tunnels, Poland
- Frasassi Caves, in Italy
- Salina Turda, in Romania
- List of colossal sculptures in situ
