10 man-made black holes on the body of the Earth
No planet in the Solar system is no different in this variety of natural forms and landscapes, as Land. Blooming valleys, sandy plains, shifting snow-capped mountain peaks, valleys and canyons, over millions of years nature created the perfect landscape that doesn't need any additions.
However, with the development of production and agriculture under the influence of human activity, the landscape began to change dramatically. Invasion into the possession of nature turned draining ponds, an increase in the area of deserts and the formation of giant holes in the ground, going in depth. We decided to recall the most the world's deepest man-made holes, resulting from the extraction of minerals by open method.
Ekati, Canada
Development career began in 1998. Between 1998 and 2009 from the pits of the mine produced 40 million carats of diamonds. Currently, the development of the mine under the ground. The exact depth of the quarry is unknown.
Diavik, Canada
The quarry was opened in 2003. It produces about 1500 kg of diamonds per year. Since 2010, the mine moved to underground mining. The exact depth of the quarry is unknown.
The big hole, South Africa
Pit was dug in the period from 1866 to 1914, using picks and shovels. It got 2722 kg of diamonds and drew on the surface of about 22.5 million tons of soil. The area of career is 17 hectares. It reaches the perimeter of 1.6 km and a width of 463 metres. Initially the depth of the holes was 240 meters, but it was later backfilled waste rock to a depth of 215 metres. Currently, the bottom full of water.
Kalgoorlie Super Pit, Australia
The largest open pit Australia began its work in 1989. Over the years, the largest gold mining quarry has grown to 3.5 km in length. Distance from pit to bottom is 360 meters.
The Grasberg, Indonesia
The Grasberg is the highest pit in the world, it is located at an altitude 4285 meters above sea level. Development career began in 1973. At the moment the quarry reached a depth of 480 metres.
Peace, Russia
Diamond field, opened in 1955, until 2001, was designed in an open way. In 2009, production started in an underground mine. Pit has a depth of 525 meters and a diameter of 1.2 km.
Udachny, Russia
Diamond Deposit in the North of Yakutia is located 20 kilometers from the Arctic circle. Since 1982, it worked out in an open way, while in 2014 earned the underground mine. Pit depth "Good" is 585 meters.
Escondida, Chile
Open mine located in the North of the Atacama desert. It began in 1990. Mine has two career. The depth of the deepest of them is 650 metres away.
Chuquicamata, Chile
It is the world's largest open mine, which is mining of copper ore. The field is being developed in 1915. The quarry is located in the Central Andes at an altitude of 2840 meters. Pit depth is 850 metres away.
Bingham Canyon, USA
Copper ore was discovered here in 1850, and 13 years later began development of the field. As of 2008, pit depth reached within 1.2 km, width 4 km, and covers an area of 1,900 acres. Every day is extracted from a quarry about 450 thousand tons of rock.