Tytyri Mine Experience, Uusimaa, Finland

4davefr0mireland 5:00 PM Jul 20, 2019

A Cool Retreat From A Finnish Heatwave
Be prepared for a cold experience - it's +8 C down there so dress warmly even if it's a hot summer's day on the surface. The operators can provide you with a blanket if you need one (and you can rent a warm jacket if necessary). You're also provided with a hard hat and taken down in a fast elevator as a group for the tour. Some tours are available in English, but these are on Saturdays only I believe. Many of the exhibit signs though have good English translations alongside the Finnish text. An interesting experience that starts with a fast elevator descent to the mine tunnels housing exhibits that illustrate the ice ridges left by the ice age across Southern Finland and the geological features that led to mines throughout Finland and this limestone mine in particular. The exhibits cover the equipment early miners used and the hazards they faced from day to day. There are activities for kids, like mining for gems in a sandbox, smashing limestone with a hammer. The tour lasts at least 1.5 hours so kids might get bored towards the end, though the 'son et lumiere' show at the big cave at the end might stimulate. Not very convenient to get to unless you are in the area, or have your own transport. There are public buses from Helsinki to Lohja - just check if there's anything suitable that matches their timetables with the timetables for the mine tours (they are at specific times during the day)

3ee345 5:00 PM Jul 19, 2012

Actually Disappointing
I took two children - 7 and 8 - and the visit was primarily for their enjoyment. The overall impression it leaves is good - but the 2 hours was overly drawn out. A lot may be dependent on the guide. We heard what must have been hundreds of dates and measurements - and a barrage of facts - but not really tied together. One can't really say the other children in the group (altogether there were about 30 people) were terribly excited. After everything said and done - one could be glad one did it (it reminds me of being thankful to have had root canal work). The whole tour could be boiled down to one hour and it would only be better. It was also rather expensive everything considered. I should also warn others that the tour is really only in Finnish - other languages can be arranged but am not familiar with how difficult this procedure would be.