15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Birches at abandoned coal cut

The middle of Russia, Tula region, near Konduki village. Among plains, cornfields and copses lays abandoned Ushakovsky coal cut. During the Soviet era there was mined lignite, but in the 90s mining was closed due to unprofitability. Now 50 meters high clay heaps are overgrown with birches and aspens, forming landscape very unusual for this region.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Konduki, Tula region, Russia
Camera: SLT-A99V
Copyright: © Alexey Kharitonov