Vizyrka, landscape reserve in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine
Vizyrka is a nature reserve in the Kryvyi Rih Raion covering about 121 hectares of former mining land that is gradually returning to natural conditions. The area features lakes and ponds left from extraction operations, rocky hills, and grasslands now inhabited by native plants and animals.
Mining in Vizyrka began in the 1970s when workers extracted iron ore, leaving behind numerous pits and water-filled holes across the landscape. The area was placed under protection in 2001 to preserve the environment and allow nature to gradually heal the land damaged by extraction.
The name Vizyrka comes from the Malodobrivolsky mine, founded in 1897 by landowner V. P. Dobrovolski, whose initial inspired the mine's direction. Visitors can observe today how the land is recovering from its industrial past and how plants and animals are gradually returning to the former mining sites.
Visitors should bring comfortable shoes, water, and food supplies since there are no shops or cafes within the reserve. Stay on marked paths, take all trash with you, and avoid disturbing wildlife to help preserve this protected area for everyone.
Vizyrka demonstrates natural recovery after industrial exploitation, with lakes and ponds created by iron ore extraction now serving as habitats for birds, small mammals, and reptiles. This unexpected transformation shows how damaged landscapes, when protected, can transform into new ecosystems.
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