Rummu Quarry, Artificial lake and limestone quarry in Lääne-Harju Rural Municipality, Estonia
Rummu Quarry is a flooded limestone excavation site where water has turned the depression into a blue-green lagoon ringed by cliffs made from mining waste. Submerged industrial buildings, equipment, and vegetation remain visible beneath the surface, creating an unusual landscape of water and stone.
The site began in 1938 when limestone quarrying started alongside the construction of a prison labor camp. After decades of extraction, the pumping station shut down in 2013, allowing groundwater to gradually fill the excavation and transforming the industrial landscape into its current state.
The name comes from the nearby village, and locals have gradually transformed the flooded site into a meeting place for recreation. Today it represents a shift from industrial production to leisure and remembrance of the past.
The site is accessible via simple paths that connect different areas and activities without needing specialized gear. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes because the terrain is uneven, and the open location means weather can change quickly.
The site attracts divers from around the world who explore submerged prison structures and industrial remains in a way few other places offer. The combination of accessible water and intact buildings underwater makes it a rare destination for this specific type of exploration.
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