Man-made mountains, steppe pyramids - these unique objects are called differently. Terricon - what is it? How did these artificial hills appear on the surface of the earth?
Heaps are obligatory attributes of all coal districts. In a sense, they have even become their full-fledged symbols.
Terricon - what is it?
Those who first get to the Donbass are amazed at the number and diversity of local heaps. In Donetsk alone, there are at least a hundred of them. They have long become a certain calling card of this city, its original brand.
What is a heap? How to characterize this object from a scientific point of view?
Terrikon is a man-made hill of conical shape, formed from waste rock, which was obtained as a result of the development of coal deposits (or deposits of other minerals). The word itself comes from the French "terri", which means "dump of the breed."
Terricon - what is it? In its origin, it is very similar to a conventional iron ore blade. However, it differs from the latter in a regular conical shape.
It is worth noting that heaps (or heaps, as they are also very often called) cause considerable harm to the environment. So, they modify natural landscapes, pollute soils and groundwater, violate the usual living conditions of the local fauna. Not one thousand hectares of fertile land was turned into a "bedland" because of the dumping of waste heaps.
Heap distribution
Heaps can be found in areas where previously conducted or conducted intensive coal mining. They are very common in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Great Britain, Sweden and other countries.
For example, in the same Donbass (this is the territory that covers part of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine) there are about 700 heaps of different ages and sizes.
Below are some examples of the most interesting heaps in Europe.
Terricon Charlotte
The largest heap in Europe is located in Poland, in the town of Ridultowy, which is next to the Czech Republic. It arose as a result of the development of a local coal mine, and in 2007 it was called the beautiful name Charlotte.
The height of Charlotte (if measured from the bottom of the hill) is 135 meters. The absolute height of the heap (above sea level) is 407 meters. It covers an area of 37 hectares. The heap is visible from anywhere in the city and even from the territory of neighboring Czech Republic.
Terricon "Three comrades"
A whole conglomerate of three huge heaps is located in the city of Donetsk, on Petrovka. He is listed behind the mine named after Chelyuskintsev. The central one has a colossal height of 121 meters. It is worth noting here that in the days of the USSR it was strictly forbidden to pour heaps of waste above one hundred meters. How such a giant was formed in the Donbass in Soviet times is a real mystery.
Today it is the highest landfill in Donetsk. And any local historian or extreme person considers it a duty to climb to its top.
Terrikon "Maria"
"Terrikon with the most gorgeous panorama" - this can be called this man-made hill. It is also located in Donetsk, on the banks of the Kalmius River. From its top offers an excellent overview of the city center. In addition, it is not very tall, so climbing up its slopes is not so difficult. That is why the guests of Donetsk should first of all be taken to the top of the local Maryrikon heap.
Finally...
Talk about heaps can be a very long time. But it’s better to see them with your own eyes. Terricon - what is it all the same? Many call them "scars on the face of the earth." Others, on the contrary, admire their unusual beauty, raising these "mountains" to the rank of special, almost sacred places.