Abandoned adits

The main photo shows part of a tunnel in an abandoned gypsum mining adit near the village of Syukeevo, Tatarstan. Development of this deposit began in the 19th century, and nearly 30 kilometers of tunnels were dug. A map of the adits looks somewhat like a grid. Initially, only manual labor was used, but in the 1930s, mining began on an industrial scale. In the early 1960s, the mine was closed due to the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants and reservoirs, creating a risk of flooding. Ultimately, the entrance to the caves is located on the banks of the Volga River; during floods, part of the mine is flooded. Overall, it's a rather atmospheric place for a walk and a photo shoot. You can find items from that era—barrels, tools, several mine carts, and more. You can wander there for a very long time, as long as you have enough battery in your flashlight and batteries in your camera. But the most important thing is to avoid going too deep alone, as it's very easy to get lost. Overall, I give this place a 4 out of 5.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16