Hallstatt’s association with salt mining dates back at least 7000 years and the ancient salt mine, which is known to have been in operation for 2800 years, is open to visitors. There are exhibitions devoted to archaeological and historical aspects of salt production from the earliest times up to the present. The mine still has its long, steep wooden slides, used by the miners to descend into the workings, which visitors can ride on. Deep in the mine, in the Hörnerwerk, there is a huge underground salt lake.