‘Hidden gem’ theme park lies 120 metres below ‘oldest salt mine in the world’

Deep underneath the ground in Romania, beneath even an ancient salt mine, there’s an incredibly strange theme park.

Salina Turda is 120 metres below the surface of the earth, at the site of one of the oldest salt mines in the world.

There’s evidence that the mine might date back to 1271, according to park's official website, but since 2010, there has been a theme park on the site right at the bottom.

The park lets in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and it’s popular with locals as well as the tourists.

There’s even a Ferris wheel down there, which is described as ‘the only one in the world that works underground’.

To be fair, that’s a very specific claim and they’re probably right about it, too.

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As well as the big wheel, there’s also bowling, mini-golf, table tennis, billiards, and all sorts of stuff to keep everyone from kids to adults entertained.

There’s a play area for the children as well, which features loads of slides and even some basketball hoops.

Oh, did we mention that there’s a large underground lake as well?

It’s called the Theresa Mine lake, and you can take boat rides on it.

The whole place is very strange, which is probably why people like it down there so much.

Down at the bottom of the mine, they also put on live shows and movie showings, with an amphitheatre that has 180 seats.

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All of the seats are heated, just in case it gets a bit nippy down in the bowels of the earth.

To get down underground, there’s a glass lift that takes you down to the bottom, which offers some incredible views across the whole mine as you descend.

Just the one lift though, so maybe you’ll have to go down the stairs instead.

And loads of people who have been have taken the time to sing the praises of the ‘hidden gem’.

One visitor wrote: "This mine experience is something unexpected after some days in Romania and maybe it's the most fantastic place I've ever been."

Another person said: "This place is SPECTACULAR!"

What’s more, there’s reportedly health benefits to being down in a massive salt mine.

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"The specialists recommend salt therapy as a very effective solution in the treatment of respiratory diseases, but also for stimulating immunity, supporting the detoxification of the body, improving the functioning of the digestive tract, also helping to reduce the effects of fatigue and stress." the website claims.

However, while there is little research on how effective 'salt therapy' is, one 2007 study did show that dry salt inhalers, used five days a week for 30 minutes, did significantly improve those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

So that's something.

It’s got to be more fun than any other treatment you might have, right?