Подземный храм из соли в Колумбии: инженерный шедевр, вырезанный в недрах горы

The Underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá has been a monumental temple of stone and light since 1995 One of the most extraordinary buildings on Earth lies 50 kilometres north of Bogotá, Colombia. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is hidden roughly 180 metres beneath a mountain of rock salt and it is carved entirely from a working salt mine. Born from the faith of miners who prayed for safety before each shift, this is an underground Catholic church. It might have begun as a humble sanctuary in the 1930s, but, in its current form since 1995, it is a monumental temple of stone and light, blending ancient geology with human artistry to become part sacred space, part engineering marvel in a way found almost nowhere else on the planet. 1/5 1. A Structure Carved, Not Built Unlike most cathedrals, this one was excavated, not assembled from bricks or stone blocks. The design of the current structure was led by architect Roswell Garavito Pearl. The cathedral is an example of stereotomic architecture: shaping solid material by removing it rather than stacking pieces together. Every part of it – arch, column, and chapel – was cut directly from the salt mountain. Using this approach required unbelievable precision – any miscalculation could compromise the entire mine’s structural integrity. 2/5 2. Monumental Scale Underground Roughly 75 metres long and 25 metres high, the cathedral is hollowed from about 250,000 tons of excavated rock salt. If you visit, you will pass through 14 small chapels representing the Stations of the Cross before reaching the vast central nave, which is dominated by a towering cross carved into the salt wall. Large enough to hold thousands of people at once, the cathedral is one of the largest underground public structures ever created for worship. 3/5 3. Light As A Building Material There are, of course, no windows in the mountain, so designers used light as an architectural element. They carefully placed coloured lighting to accentuate salt’s natural textures and translucency – in a way that transforms plain rock into glowing surfaces that seem almost otherworldly. As visitors move through the tunnels, the effect shifts. Each of the three main naves, which symbolise the birth, life, and death of Christ, are bathed in a palette that shapes the spaces’ emotional tone. 4/5 4. Engineering For Safety And Permanence The original 1950s chapel was shut down in 1992, after concerns were raised by inspectors about its structural soundness. The new cathedral was built deeper deliberately and with reinforced engineering standards that incorporated drainage systems, ventilation, and stabilised ceiling arches that would have to support the immense weight of the mountain above. This cathedral is a feat of modern engineering due to this careful balance between artistic ambition and structural caution. 5/5 Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) Q. How deep underground is the Salt Cathedral? A. The Salt Cathedral is sited roughly 180 to 200 metres below the surface inside an active salt mine. Q. When was the current cathedral built? A. Construction of the current cathedral began in 1991 and it officially opened in 1995, replacing an earlier structure from the 1950s. Q. Why was the original cathedral closed? A. The original structure was deemed structurally unsafe by engineers in 1992, which led to the construction of a new, deeper cathedral. Q. Who designed the cathedral? A. Architect Roswell Garavito Pearl – after winning a competition held by the Colombian Society of Architects – designed the current structure. Q. Is the cathedral still an active place of worship? A. Yes, Mass is held regularly at the cathedral. It also hosts weddings and other ceremonies. Femina's content is created, fact-checked, and reviewed by qualified writers, editors, clinicians, and other contributors. Keeping high journalistic Standards Prioritizing accurancy, empathy, and inclusivity We're working hard to continually improve, so we want to hear from you if we could be doing better. If you have any questions or comments about the accuracy or usability of our content or feel an article is out of date, you can easily let us know by visiting theis page.