2. The Descent: Entering the Darkness
Each shift begins with a slow, rattling descent—miners ride elevators or trek through steep, narrow tunnels, sometimes for nearly an hour. This journey into the earth is disorienting, as familiar daylight fades and the world above slips away. The experience is reminiscent of cave explorers, surrounded by silence and shadow. For more about the depths of coal mining, visit National Geographic: Coal Mining History.
