Rezerwat Groty Kryształowe, Wieliczka
Facts and practical information
Crystal Grottoes Nature Reserve - an inanimate nature reserve in Małopolska province. The first underground reserve in Poland. It covers an area of 1.04 hectares, while its aboveground buffer zone is 2.065 hectares.
Created in 2000 in the Wieliczka salt mine, within the natural underground cavities: Lower Crystal Grotto and Upper Crystal Grotto at a depth of 70-114 m. It is protected by a unique accumulation of halite crystals of considerable size and forms of salt karst.
According to the current protection plan, the reserve is under active protection. The reserve is not available for mass tourism due to the risk of harmful changes in microclimate caused by the presence of people, which may result in corrosion of crystals. It can be made available for scientific and educational purposes.
The reserve is supervised by the Management Board of Wieliczka Salt Mine S.A.
Wieliczka
Lesser Poland