Shenhai, the world's first well more than 1,000 meters deep
Shenhai Well, drilled in 1835 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was the world's first well more than 1,000 meters deep. The ancient salt well, with a depth of 1,001.42 meters, is located in Changyantang, Zigong City of Sichuan Province. Today, it is still in operation. Workers boil brine in eight cauldrons over flames powered by natural gas, which also comes out of the well, to extract salt crystal. Zigong, dubbed "China's salt capital," boasts a history of salt production of some 2,000 years. [Photo by You Zixuan/China.org.cn]
