Bagger 288, Mining excavator in Garzweiler, Germany.
Bagger 288 is a bucket-wheel excavator at Garzweiler mine in Germany, spanning 180 meters (590 feet) in length, standing 70 meters (230 feet) tall and measuring 40 meters (131 feet) wide. The structure rests on large caterpillar tracks that distribute its weight evenly across the ground, while the rotating bucket wheel at the front of the boom continuously removes coal and layers of earth.
The machine was built between 1973 and 1978 and began working at Hambach mine. It was later relocated to other sites to meet the changing demands of coal extraction in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The name comes from the German word for digging and points to the machine's role in open-pit mining. Visitors today see a vehicle that moves slowly through the landscape, uncovering entire layers of earth while the rotating wheel works without pause, scooping material onto long conveyor belts that carry it away.
The machine is visible from viewpoints around the mine, with the best view possible in clear weather. Visibility depends on where it is currently working in the mining area, as it moves slowly through the terrain according to operational needs.
The machine relocated in 2001 across a distance of 22 kilometers (14 miles), crossing rivers on specially laid steel plates. This transport took several weeks and required engineers to work together to prepare the terrain for the slow journey and take protective measures for the areas it passed through.
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