The Bełchatów mining complex in central Poland, where lignite, or brown coal, was extracted, began a gradual shutdown last year.
The giant pits remaining after lignite extraction will be transformed into an artificial lake, which authorities hope will become a major tourist attraction, stimulating economic development, according to the country’s public broadcaster TVP.
Depth will reach 170 meters
Preparatory work is currently underway, and the maximum level of the completed lake is expected to reach a depth of about 170 meters, surpassing Poland’s current deepest body of water – Lake Hańcza, which is 108.5 meters deep.
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Representatives of the state-owned company PGE GiEK, which manages the area, estimated that the lake formation process will take 17 to 19 years, meaning the first tourists will be able to visit the site in the late 2040s.
Plans for the future recreational area include beaches, a yacht marina, and water entertainment facilities. Work is currently underway to reduce the depth of the quarry and reshape the slopes to adapt the area for recreational purposes and ensure the safety of future visitors.
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