El Chiflón del Diablo, Coal mine in Lota, Chile.
El Chiflón del Diablo is a former coal mine in Lota, Chile, with tunnel networks that extend up to 850 meters below sea level. The galleries run far beneath the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the deepest extraction sites in South American mining.
Operations began in 1884 and continued until 1970, spanning nearly a century of coal extraction beneath the ocean. It supplied factories and ships and played an important role in Chilean industrialization.
The name means the Devil's Whistle in Spanish, inspired by the sharp howling sound of wind that used to rush through the ventilation shafts deep in the tunnels. You can still hear faint echoes of air moving when you walk through certain passages.
Former miners lead you through the tunnels and explain how they worked underground. Tours last about 90 minutes and require sturdy shoes since parts of the passages can be damp and uneven.
The temperature inside stays constant at 23 degrees Celsius throughout the year, thanks to natural ocean currents that ventilate the tunnels. This steady warmth helped workers in the deepest shafts avoid freezing despite the harsh conditions.
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