Cleveland Salt Mines

The headlights of the vehicle driven by George Campbell, left, maintenance supervisor, light the way through the tunnels of the Cargill Cleveland salt mine in Whiskey Island, to a current work location, 1,800 feet below the surface of Lake Erie and six miles from the entrance of the mine, in Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, March 19, 2026.

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One of the largest salt mines in the world exists under Lake Erie

One of the largest salt mines in the world exists under Lake Erie

The Whiskey Island salt mine in Cleveland is critically important to providing enough road salt to keep streets safe during the harsh winters of the Northeast and Great Lakes states. And it has been a very busy season, with lower temperatures and more snow and ice in many communities served by the salt. The mine is one of the largest salt mines in the world, producing 3 million to 4 million tons per year. But demand can be greater than even that during especially tough winters like the one that mercifully came to a close this month.