Altenberg Pinge, Mining heritage monument in Altenberg, Germany
Altenberg Pinge is a deep circular depression in the ground formed by the collapse of underground mining tunnels. The bowl measures roughly 400 meters across and 150 meters deep, creating a striking geographical feature in the landscape.
The depression formed on January 24, 1620, when underground mining chambers collapsed beneath the surface. Centuries of tin extraction had weakened the rock below until it could no longer support itself.
The site shows how mining shaped the identity of the local region for generations. You can sense how the community's entire way of life once revolved around extracting ore from below.
The site is open to visitors year-round and best viewed from the rim where you get the full sense of the scale. Guided tours available through the local tourism office provide helpful context about the mining history.
The hole is so vast that standing at the rim leaves you struggling to grasp its actual size from photographs. It remains one of the most dramatic reminders of how mining literally reshaped the earth.
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