Just about an hour southwest of St. Louis is one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” towns. Bonne Terre is a little corner of Missouri with a deep dark secret. Underneath the town’s streets and storefronts is a subterranean world sought after by divers worldwide.
Bonne Terre Mine is a 10.5 acre abandoned lead mine that is now submerged in water, one billion gallons of water to be exact. The mine was once bustling with activity beginning in the mid 1800s. In order to continue ore retrieval deep down into the ground, a massive pump system was created and used to pump out underground water. By the early 1960s, drilling had ceased and so did the pumping.
Water crept in and filled the cavernous space creating what Bonne Terre Mine is today, a notably vast underground, freshwater lake with preserved mining relics. A pumping system was constructed to maintain water levels. Stadium lights are situated throughout the mine so divers and visitors on the mine’s various tours have long range visibility through the already clear water.
If you are a scuba enthusiast, this is a must-do on your diving ventures, especially with the convenience of it being open year-round. Wear thick suites and hoods if you get cold easily because the water temps are in the low 60s. A trail system has been mapped out for interested divers and offered via guided tours beginning with easy (little to no obstacles) trails first.
Not a diver? Not a problem. Informative and entertaining walking and boat tours of Bonne Terre Mine are offered and last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. You can access more on Bonne Terre Mine here.
Check out our little adventures at Bonne Terre Mine! We took the walking/boat tour one day and scuba diving the next. I attempted the first dive and Levi dove a total of 4 dives.
Just a note, we do not represent Bonne Terre Mine in any form or fashion. We are simply documenting our RV travels and note-worthy detours along our route.
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As always…safe travels and happy trails!
