Gipsy-1, Underground gypsum mine in Kamsko-Ustyinsky District, Russia.
Gipsy-1 is a former gypsum extraction site in Tatarstan featuring over 2600 meters of underground tunnels and chambers. The system preserves the original layout of mining operations from the mid-1900s, showing where workers removed layers of gypsum rock.
Mining began in the 1930s and continued through the 1950s when gypsum was a key material for regional industries. The operation eventually closed, becoming one of many abandoned sites across the region.
The site reveals how miners extracted gypsum by hand and machine, leaving traces of their daily work deep underground. These remnants show the skill and effort required to harvest this raw material for regional industries.
Bring a flashlight, sturdy shoes, and a jacket since underground temperatures stay cool and constant year-round. The uneven ground and narrow passages require careful footing and attention to your surroundings at all times.
Of the many abandoned mines scattered across the region, this is the sole site open to visitors today. Most neighboring operations have flooded or caved in, making this a rare chance to walk through an intact underground mine.
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