Tailings Heap in Tarnowskie Góry

The orange-red hillock between the Segiet reserve and the Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry is a tailings heap — a dump of barren rock left after washing lead, silver and zinc ores at the Royal Fryderyk Mine. Heaping began in the early 19th century, at the peak of the mining boom, on the site of a washing plant that operated for 120 years. Dumping ended in 1926. Its slopes form a distinctive element of Tarnowskie Góry’s post-mining landscape.

Colour and composition

The red colour comes from iron ore mixed into the ore-bearing dolomite. It looks like a dead landscape, yet it is one of the most interesting botanical sites in the region: on soils saturated with zinc and lead, galman grasslands have developed, with Haller's whitlowgrass, swollen and pendulous campion, stemless carline thistle and broad-leaved helleborine.

A nature enclave

The plants are accompanied by pollinating insects, butterflies, the sand lizard and birds. After years of neglect, when quads and scavengers damaged the slopes, the site came under protection — in 2017 the heap became part of the Tarnowskie Góry mining landscape inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Practical information

The site is open to the public, but this is post-mining terrain: follow local rules and keep out of restricted areas. Look for it near Długa Street, close to other UNESCO heritage elements. The best light is around sunset.