Riedel Potash Mine (Disused)

This is actually the deepest potash mine in the world (at almost 1525 meters)! It has been closed since 1997. The buildings around it are gradually being razed to the ground! The former high water tower was blown up on September 1st, 2022 and thus disappeared! Only the winding tower is now visible.

A little west of the starting point Hänigsen Riedel there is a "tar pit museum" in the open air. A long time ago, tar was skimmed out of a pit on the surface here. Long, long before there was oil production in Winsen. "Oil" was pumped out of the earth there and there were no oil drilling rigs in far-off Saudi Arabia and other countries. Ask residents at the "tar pit museum" - the older ones will be able to tell you about it. Years ago, in Burgdorfer Holz, not far from Hänigsen, towards Dachtmissen, there were still small mining towers that were probably used for lubricants.
And to the left of the railway in the forest there is now a fenced-in railing belonging to the "Bahlsen Kekse" company that serves as a warehouse. In World War II there was an army ammunition depot and a penal camp for prisoners of war and Jews to produce ammunition. It is easier to reach a little west, parallel to the railway line, where a path branches off to the right with a sign pointing to the satellite camp.

There were very informative information boards at the entrance gate.