Now, this looks like an interesting area.
It’s a former limestone mine. It was in operation between 1909 and 1976. After that it filled with water and served as a practise ground for divers. You can see the water somehwere behind the bushes.
Diving was forbidden back in 2004, as the ground water in the area was used as a drinking water supply. It was permitted again in 2016, as drinking water was taken from the area only during special circumstances.
Diving continued despite the ban. There have been three drowning accidents, in 2008, 2013 and 2021.
I didn’t expect to find much more than a pit with water of a beautiful color. I was suprised, that there was something else to find.
At first I thought that this was the old elevator tower.
But it looks more like the big weel has at some point spinned.
The real mining tower is further back. It’s pretty much invisible in the picture, but the cable has been running from the tower to the building seen in the earlier pictures.
The main tower was inaccessible from here, but I’m inside the wheel building now.
More of the machinery. There was no way up there, and if you know me, you know that even if there was, I wouldn’t have climbed there. I’m more afraid of heights than dark basements.
More rusty machinery at the back. And a box of explosives, which I only noticed now while going through the photos. I hope there was nothing in it, as I’m also deadly afraid of explosions.
All of my fears encountered in one building, Jesus.
More old machinery at the back.
The lift building was quickly explored.
The road to the mining pit was still in use. There were also some less interesting structures in the area.
I tried to photograph the two towers in the sunset. Basically I failed, but this picture still has something magical about it. I thought about editing it more, but that’s against my principles.
In the metallic sheds were some things that look like they were supposed to be pulled by a tractor and something, which looks like and old fridge.
In this corner of the area was another old mining building.
The chimney to the left did look like a bit of a mismatch.
It does indeed. Let’s see…
Yup, a definite later addition.
But there seems to be an open door. So why not go and take a closer look.
Now THIS is cool! If there’s one thing I enjoy, it’s abandoned heavy industrial sites! What a find! 🙂
Well, in that case you are lucky! Later this spring there will be photos from not one but two iron ore mines 😉
YAY! 😀