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Curving and twisting tunnels descend into the Roman Catholic temple, passing 14 small chapels representing the Stations Of The Cross , which illustrate the events of Jesus ' last journey. GEOLOGICAL FORMATION Salt deposits in Zipaquirá were formed 200 million years ago, and were raised above sea level during the late Tertiary period, when the Andes were formed. The mines were exploited by the Muisca culture in the eras before the Spanish came to the Americas . HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL Years before the first Cathedral was built, miners had carved a sanctuary. In . However, as the cathedral was caved inside an active mine, structural problems and safety concerns led the authorities to shut down the sanctuary in 1990. In 1991 the construction of a new Cathedral was undertaken, 200 feet under the older one. This new Cathedral was inaugurated in 1995 . EXTERNAL LINKS
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