This week: Deep beneath the earth Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
Quote for the week:
"These old hills call for the blood of my body.
A pound of flesh for a ton of coal.
So down I go to a dark hell waiting.
Where lungs turn black and hearts grow cold.
And I'll take to the hills and run from the devil
To the dying sun.
Something wicked my way comes.
Tread soft my friend into these shadows
Where the old ones roam.
For in these hills we die alone."
~From "The Land Unknown" by Landon Blood |
| ASIN: B01CJ2TNQI |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
|
|
Fear of the dark is one of those fears that are deeply ingrained in humans, due to experiences of our primitive ancestors. When primitive humans lived outside, nighttime was when they were at most risk from predators.
Even today, when the risk of predator attacks to most humans in our everyday lives is low, darkness still causes anxiety for many people. Extreme fear or phobia of the dark is called nyctophobia (fear of night) or scotophobia (fear of darkness.) People with this phobia may avoid any situation where there isn't enough light. They may refuse to leave their homes after sundown and be unable to sleep in a darkened room. This fear can lead to lack of sleep which can cause trouble in their daily lives.
Fear of darkness isn't just about the darkness itself, but also the things that might be hiding in the darkness. People who fear the darkness may also fear ghosts, demons, or all too human attackers that might be lurking in the dark. Shadows can cause everyday objects to appear sinister. For example, a coat rack with a coat hanging on it might appear to be a skeletal monster.
While any darkened place can be disturbing, some places are much darker than an average darkened room or nighttime street.
If you have ever been on a cave tour where the guide turned off their light source, you have seen pure darkness. Dark places on the earth's surface usually have enough ambient light to allow your eyes to get used to the gloom. However, inside a cave, there is no ambient light, so our eyes never adjust. Caves can also contain areas that have not yet been explored by humans, so we don't know exactly what might be down there.
Many old cities sit above networks of old tunnels and passages. These passages may have originally been built as sewer systems or means for city workers to get from place to place. One of the most famous subterranean passages is the Paris Catacombs. The Catacombs are underground tombs which are the remnants of old mines beneath and around the city. The Catacombs were used to house bones of the dead in the 18th Century due to sinkholes and overcrowding of the city's cemeteries. The bones of approximately 6 million people were stored in the Catacombs. While it is illegal to enter the Catacombs without permission, tours of a small section are available to the public.
People have been digging in the earth for resources such as coal and riches such as gold and silver for thousands of years. The oldest mine on record is the Ngwenya Mine in Swaziland which is more than 40,000 years old. This mine was a source of hematite, which was used to make the red pigment ochre.
In the past, when mining operations were concluded, operators could abandon a mine without sealing it or removing safety hazards. There may be as many as 500,000 such abandoned mines in the US alone. Reclamation processes require time and money, so it may be many years before all these old mines are sealed. While some of these old mine passages may appear safe to explore, they can contain hazards such as unsafe shafts, broken down equipment, unstable surfaces, and left over explosives. Even the air in an abandoned mine can be dangerous dues to toxic gases or lack of oxygen.
Something to try: Write a horror story that takes place in a cave or mine.
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07N36MHWD |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99
|
|
| Question for next time: What subjects would you like to see in future horror newsletters? |
| ASIN: B01FST8A90 |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: $ 24.95
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Horror/Scary: December 04, 2024 Issue [#12871]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
