Abstract
The article presents a detailed description of the transformation of the terrain relief due to long-lasting underground and surface mining activity in the Wielka Kopa massif at Rudawy Janowickie (the Western Sudetes mountains). It includes both the anthropogenic forms and secondary transformations of these forms due to natural land-shaping processes, ongoing after mining had been discontinued. The location deserves special attention, as it shows particularly significant mining-induced relief transformations, whose scale can be compared to those of the Walbrzych hard coal basin and the Turoszow lignite basin. The presented object is also an important historical heritage and deserves special attention due to its high research, didactic and tourism potential. The article offers a description of the characteristics and a classification of the anthropogenic forms in the area of Wielka Kopa, which are hoped to serve as an aid in planning future actions related to the revitalization of the area and also as an example for future descriptions of other closed mining facilities.
Highlights
Mining-Induced AnthropogenicSurface mining is one of the economy branches which have a strong impact on the natural environment
Abandoned post-industrial mining areas are an important source of environmental problems
The geological and geomorphological description of the landscape of the Wielka Kopa Massif, presented in this paper shows unusual tourist values of the discussed area
Summary
Surface mining is one of the economy branches which have a strong impact on the natural environment. Mining-related transformations usually have an irreversible or longlasting character and often cause a number of negative processes even after extraction is discontinued. Mining activity entails changes in the morphology and geology of the mining area. Hydrogeological, soil and even climate conditions change as a result of terrain relief transformations. As the deposit is developed and mined, the fauna and flora of the region are transformed, causing changes or even in some cases the degradation to the ecosystem [1]. Abandoned post-industrial mining areas are an important source of environmental problems. In many cases such facilities are an important historical heritage and in many countries, they are protected by various legal regulations [2]
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