GERMANY / GORLEBEN-14 February 2002--The Gorleben exploratory mine. Homogeneous rock salt formations have the tendency of filling empty space there for maintaining of the tunnels is crucial. In accordance with the agreed moratorium the exploration work was stopped on October 1, 2000. The activities in Gorleben are basically limited to service, maintenance and conservation activities..The Gorleben salt dome, the approximately 14 km long, 4 km wide and between 3.200 m and 3.400 m thick, which lies at a depth of about 250 m under the surface, is being explored with regard to its suitability as a final repository for all types of radioactive waste. In total about 7 km of roads and galleries (with a volume of approx. 234.000 m¸) have been excavated and geological and geotechnical boreholes with an overall length of about 16.000 m have been drilled. -- PHOTO: JUHA ROININEN / EUP-IMAGES