Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine - Japan

Another card from Japan and also from a UNESCO site but this one is new in my collection. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was added to the World Heritage Site list in 2007. 

The Iwami Ginzan was a silver mine in the city of Ōda, Shimane Prefecture, on the main island of Honshū.

This card shows the Iwami Silvermine Museum, dating from 1902. It was a town administrative office standing on the site of the magistrate’s office which oversaw the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Omori. The museum houses ancient documents, maps, and other materials relating to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. - in: http://www.kankou-shimane.com/en/blog/archives/3558

The card was sent by Phoebe. 

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape is a relict mining landscape that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries due to an exchange of ideas and trade with East Asia and Europe. It gives an overall picture of mine management from silver production to shipment. The entire process was done manually.

The mine was developed in 1526 by Kamiya Jutei, a Japanese merchant. Large amounts of quality silver could be produced due to the introduction of the traditional East Asian metal refining method. It reached its peak production of 38 tons in the early 17th century of approximately 38 tons of silver a year which was then a third of world production. 

Silver production from the mine fell in the nineteenth century as it had trouble competing with mines elsewhere and it was eventually closed in 1923. - in: http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/iwamiginzan.html