Description of the attraction
The Kohtla Miners' Park Museum is located in the village of Kohtla-Nõmme near Kohtla-Järve. The museum was opened several years ago on the site of a former oil shale mine. The mine was closed in the 90s when oil shale consumption declined. Initially, they wanted to flood it, but later they decided to organize a museum on its basis. The museum accepts organized groups; for single tourists, an excursion is also organized as the group recruits. During the season, i.e. in the summer months, you do not have to wait long for the recruitment of groups, and at other times it is better to call in advance and inquire about the excursions.
The tour lasts about an hour and a half. Before entering, you will be appropriately equipped: you will receive a jacket, since the temperature in the mine is constant and is about 8 degrees, a helmet with a flashlight and a battery for a light bulb.
The excursion begins by descending a ladder into the mine, which, however, does not take much time, since the shale mines are usually not deep, about 10 meters. You will take a ride to the desired place on a small miners' train, on which miners used to go to the place of mining.
In Estonia, oil shale was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, however, it was possible to organize organized mining only in the 1920s. Slate occurs in layers, alternating with limestone rocks. This is clearly visible on the walls of the mine: the gray layers are limestone, and the brown ones are shale. Initially, the extraction of this rock was done manually, with the help of picks and shovels. The mined oil shale was taken up on horses. Later, the mining of rocks took place with the help of explosives. With the help of a drill, a hole was drilled in the wall into which dynamite was laid. A special harvester drove up to the place of the explosion, on which pieces of oil shale were taken out.
Later, another method of oil shale mining appeared. A special harvester with two milling cutters sank into the ground, which gnawed out the rock. The collected oil shale was loaded onto trolleys and transported along rails to a conveyor, which lifted the oil shale to the surface along an inclined belt.
During the excursion, you will learn and see how and with what technique the oil shale was mined, in addition, you can try to use the drill yourself. On the territory of the museum there is a shop where you can buy souvenirs and gifts.
