Żelazny Most, Tailings storage facility in Rynarcice, Poland.
Żelazny Most is a storage facility for residual materials from copper ore processing in the Lubin region. It contains water clarification systems that recycle liquids back to the enrichment plants.
Construction began in 1974, and operations started on February 12, 1977, after flooding three villages. This inundation was a major transformation of the local communities and landscape in the area.
The name comes from a nearby settlement and shows how copper mining shaped the industrial identity of Lower Silesia. Visitors can observe how this facility is part of the broader mining landscape that defines the region.
The facility connects three major mining operations at Lubin, Polkowice-Sieroszowice, and Rudna through an extensive pipeline network. Being located in an industrial area means visitors should be prepared for the conditions and atmosphere of an active mining region.
With embankments extending several kilometers and depths reaching around 45 meters, this is one of Europe's largest tailings facilities. The site reveals how European copper production depends on such large-scale infrastructure.
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