The Well Soton

Latitude: 43.2808151 Length: -5.6220708
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The Sotón Mine is located between El Entrego and Sotrondio , in the heart of the Asturian mining region. Inside and out, it is a marvel of engineering and industrial architecture. Owned by HUNOSA, it boasts over 140 kilometers of tunnels and was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2014. Now, it has become one of Spain's most unique tourist attractions.

Two types of tours are available inside the mine. A "short tour ," lasting 2.5 hours, covers more than two kilometers at a depth of approximately 400 meters; and a "long tour ," a five-hour tour that takes you almost 600 meters underground, descending to the ninth level of the shaft through "La Jota," a ventilation shaft that was once also used as an auxiliary exit from the mine. According to most accounts, it's quite common for those who take the short tour to want to do the long one.

How is the interior visit to the Pozo Sotón mine?

It's spectacular, without a doubt. A true adventure, and a very enriching experience . We'll discover firsthand the intricacies and secrets of an authentic mine. We'll step into the miners' shoes for a while, using their clothing, safety equipment, and tools, to explore the mine safely and take home a small sample of Asturian coal.

First things first, we put on our work overalls, our headlamps, and our self-rescue equipment. Then we attended a safety briefing, and accompanied by real professional miners who acted as our guides, we boarded the cage (mine elevator) to descend 400 meters below the surface. The miners began explaining their daily routine and how, meter by meter, they carved their way underground to extract the coal. Their explanations were full of solid knowledge, a personal touch, and good humor.

We got off on the eighth floor , which greets visitors with a boarding gallery barely five meters wide by three meters high. On the floor, we noticed a hole. It's "La Jota," and those who have previously chosen to descend to the ninth floor will do so through it (a certain level of physical fitness is required to descend this section, but visitors who wish to do so can always take an alternative, less challenging route). The semi-vertical chimney has been excavated by hand and supported only with wood. "You must try to maintain three points of contact when descending," the guides advised us.

The silence, the breathing, the beating of our hearts. For a moment, we hesitate to begin descending this unique and narrow passage, about 100 meters long, which in some places barely exceeds a square meter in width and whose average slope exceeds 43 degrees. It is undoubtedly the most demanding part of the visit, although there's no need to be alarmed. The route through La Jota is not extremely difficult. Moreover, we are always under the supervision of the miners , who are very attentive to the group at all times and responsible for ensuring our safety.

After about twenty minutes of descent, the "mining tourist" reaches the ninth level. There, the walking tour begins towards the areas where coal was mined . They show you the narrow galleries where miners squatted or lay on the ground, using tools weighing over eight kilograms, amidst a dense cloud of dust and a deafening noise for hours on end. The courage and strength required to perform this work are evident, and we can witness it firsthand by attending a miners' workshop in this area . Thanks to this activity, with our own perseverance, we obtain a piece of bituminous coal that we will surely place in a prominent spot in our home.

Along approximately two kilometers of tunnels, we encountered various water, air, electricity, and communication systems, as well as the track layouts, tunnel support methods, and automatic ventilation door opening systems. The final two kilometers, the return to the shaft, are covered on a company personnel train.

Who can go down the mine?

The extended visit inside the Sotón Mine, including the descent through La Jota, is suitable for anyone in good physical condition with a minimum of flexibility and agility . It doesn't require high physical exertion, but muscle soreness is guaranteed for the following days. There's no need to be particularly apprehensive or give in to unfounded fears, although it's not suitable for pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, or those suffering from respiratory, cardiac, or other related ailments, nor for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia or vertigo. The activity is also not permitted for minors unless there is express authorization from their guardians. The minimum age is 16.

All the security measures, recommendations and contraindications are detailed on the official website.

What other things can we see and do in Pozó Sotón?

A comprehensive guided tour of the mine's exterior . A route steeped in mining history, beginning at the warehouse and lamp room, and then revealing the mine's history and architecture: its two headframes, the metal structure connecting them (the re-gate), and the ever-impressive engine house and union offices. Opposite the two headframes stands the Mining Memorial, which pays tribute to the miners who died in workplace accidents under the management of HUNOSA; to all those who gave their lives in a herculean task, ultimately essential for the socio-economic development of our country.

At the end of the exterior route, the participants will know how to make sense of all these words and expressions: chimney, headwall, postiar, pull, racks, masonry, the chulana post, the chapeo, the bocarrampla, the gallery advance, the driller, the scraper, the tresillons, a cross of Saint Andrew, etc. They will also attend the simulation of a forward shot and see a roadheader in operation.

The Sotón Mine is a veritable mining cathedral. Its activity dates back to the 19th century, and its administrative closure took place in 2014. It is a symbol of the Asturian industrial revolution and, for this reason, also houses the Mining Experience and Memory Center (CEMM). This museum recreates spaces dedicated to miners, firedamp, workplace accidents, historical documentation, and the work of women miners. The center is especially appealing to children, as it allows them to build a mine using the Minecraft video game, among many other attractions, and features an interactive exhibition where 90% of the elements have been recovered or reused from closed mine shafts. The CEMM offers specific programs for schoolchildren and families, theatrical tours, creative workshops, children's camps, mining-themed birthday parties, and an escape room where visitors can join a mining team to complete an important mission.