Viewpoint on the Garzweiler surface mine

Garzweiler is one of Germany's largest lignite coal pits. Like many other quarries it will become a huge lake in the future, the project starts in 2045 and will last for decades.

From the observation deck you can see the excavators, some of the largest in the world. Coal from the quarry is used to produce electricity, and its extraction causes constant protests from environmentalists and locals. And I understand them perfectly well, during our visit it was windy and there was a wall of dust around the quarry. They try to settle it with the help of water, but the dust still flies to the surrounding villages, many of them have been completely relocated to other places. In fact, the name of the quarry itself, Garzweiler, is also the name of a former village that has disappeared.








Getting there: parking 51.045583, 6.463389.