WIELICZKA  , a

mining town in Galicia, Austria, 220 M. by rail W. of Lemberg and 9 m . S.E. of Cracow . Pop . (1900) 6012 . It is built on the slopes of a hill which half encircles the place, and over the celebrated salt-mines of the same name . These mines are the richest in Austria, and among the most remarkable in the world . They consist of seven different levels, one above the other, and have eleven shafts, two of which are in the town . The levels are connected by flights of steps, and are composed of a labyrinth of chambers and passages, whose length aggregates over 65 m . The length of the mines from E. to W. is 21 m., the breadth from N. to S. is 1050 yds. and the depth reaches 98o ft . Many of the old chambers, some of which are of enormous size, are embellished with portals, candelabra, statues, &c., all hewn in rock-salt . There are also two large chapels, containing altars, ornaments, &c., in rock-salt, a room called the dancing saloon (Tanzsaal), where the objects of interest found in the mines are kept; the Kronleuchtersaal, and the chamber Michatovice are also worth mention . In the interior of the mines are sixteen ponds, of which the large lake of Przykos is 195 ft. long, rro ft. broad, and 10-26 ft. deep .

The mines employ over 100o workers, and yield about 6o,000 tons annually . The salt of Wieliczka is well known for its purity and solidity, but has generally a

grey or blackish colour . The date of the discovery of the mines is unknown, but they were already worked in the lrth century . Since 1814 they have belonged entirely to the Austrian government . The mines suffered greatly from inundations in 1868 and 1879, and the soil on which the town is built shows signs of subsidence . See E . Windakiewicz, Das Steinsaizbergwerk in Wieliczka (Freiberg, 1896) .