2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN

While camping the weekend at nearby McCarthy Beach State Park, we'd heard that the mine at Soudan Underground Mine State Park had finally finished the repairs from the 2011 fire.  Located in Soudan, MN, this weekend was essentially the grand reopening for tours.  Since the weather wasn't cooperating, we decided to make a day out of spending our time underground.

The nearly half mile ride down into the mine was three minutes of dark, loud and claustrophobic conditions which caused even stable minded folk to hunker down into a near panic. Bottoming out at 27th level, some 2341 feet below the surface, the depths of the mine were cool and breezy.  We boarded an ore train and took a 5 minute ride deep into the mine where we were given an hour long tour.

If you get the chance to visit the iron range, the tour at Soudan Underground Mine is worth every penny.  Do not drive by without stopping.  But watch out for bats.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Entrance to Soudan Underground Mine State Park Entrance to Soudan Underground Mine State Park	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Laura studying the mining equipment Laura studying the mining equipment	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Nene likes to explore heavy equipment Nene likes to explore heavy equipment
2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN The elevator lift system The elevator lift system	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Bart inside the elevator headed down Bart inside the elevator headed down	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN The elevator entrance at level 27 The elevator entrance at level 27
2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Signage indicating just how deep we were Signage indicating just how deep we were	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Boarding the underground ore train Boarding the underground ore train	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Bart and Laura riding the ore train through the mine Bart and Laura riding the ore train through the mine
2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Nene riding the ore train through the mine Nene riding the ore train through the mine	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Keep your hands and feet in the vehicle at all times Keep your hands and feet in the vehicle at all times	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN This was an actual working chamber at one time This was an actual working chamber at one time
2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Male and female passengers were segrated on the elevator Male and female passengers were segrated on the elevator	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Bart and Mike waiting for a ride back to the surface Bart and Mike waiting for a ride back to the surface	2012 - Soudan Underground Mine Tour, Soudan, MN Bart, Nene and Laura waiting for a ride back to the surface Bart, Nene and Laura waiting for a ride back to the surface