The state of Nevada in the US has over 300,000 abandoned mines, posing a multitude of dangers to anyone who ventures into them.
A growing problem for state and federal officials is the increasing interest in these abandoned mines by vloggers and YouTubers.
Interest in abandoned mines has risen in recent years, with the increase in off-road vehicles and ATVs, as well as online influencers exploring these dangerous sites.
Most of these “mine divers” are not from Nevada and are not aware of the dangers, despite the state’s efforts to educate its residents about the risks.
With the daunting task of securing hundreds of thousands of mines, officials are turning to social media to reach out to this new audience.
Nevada’s mining history has resulted in an estimated 300,000 abandoned mines scattered across the state, with only a fraction of them being secured.
State officials have been slowly working through the backlog, securing about 20,000 of the visited sites, but the need for revisiting these sites every few years adds to the challenge.
Despite efforts to secure the sites, people have still found ways to tamper with the barriers and access the dangerous mines.
State officials urge hikers and adventurers who come across unsecured mines to report their findings to the Division of Minerals.
Abandoned mines pose a wide range of deadly risks, including falling down mine shafts, encountering dangerous animals, and exposure to harmful substances.
Since 1961, there have been 19 reported deaths and 24 injuries in abandoned mines in Nevada, prompting the state to prioritize education on the dangers of these sites.
From 1990 to 2010, there were 36 incidents in abandoned mines, but the number has significantly decreased in recent years, although social media has presented new challenges in reaching people with the safety message.
In an effort to combat the allure of mine exploration videos, the state created “Jimmy King, the king of bad ideas” videos, which have become some of the division’s most viewed on the platform.
Despite the rich mining history of Nevada, officials emphasize the need for public safety and awareness when it comes to abandoned mines.
