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Berezniki – the City of Sinkholes
No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Cities, Ecology, Photos
Berezniki is the second largest city in the Perm region with a population of about 145,000 people, a large industrial center located 191 km north of Perm.
The city stands on a large deposit of potassium and magnesium salts that have been mine-produced for decades. Berezniki on Google Maps. Photos by: Lana Sator.
Administrative and household building in the zone of one of the sinkholes.
As a result, it turned out that a significant part of the residential districts and enterprises of the city is located directly above the mines. In some areas, mine cavities are located only 250-300 meters from the surface.
Mines are flooded with groundwater leading to the formation of sinkholes that occur regularly in the city, which literally falls through the ground. This is the main reason why this industrial city became known throughout Russia and even abroad.
This sinkhole in the forest located at some distance from Berezniki was nicknamed “Distant Relative” by locals.
In total, as of the summer of 2018, the city has 10 sinkholes. Special resettlement zones were organized, several dozen residential houses were recognized as unfit for living. The rate of subsidence of the soil in certain areas reaches several centimeters per year.
Flooded factory of technical salt.
Operating heat and power plant near the sinkhole.
Abandoned factory of technical salt.
Building of the canteen on the edge of the sinkhole.
Flooded structures.
Still exploited dumps of the potash factory in the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole.
The fourth sinkhole – part of the roundabout.
Flooded garages.
Remains of the mine-building administration.
This building falls apart in half.
Sinkholes look especially picturesque from above.
Abandoned apartment buildings.
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