Rummu quarry

Rummu quarry in October 2013 as seen from the spoil tip
Derelict Rummu quarry utility buildings in the water at night, September 2014

The Rummu quarry is a submerged limestone quarry located in Rummu, Vasalemma Parish, Estonia. Much of the natural area of the quarry is under a lake formed by groundwater, and is situated next to a spoil tip. The quarry is close to two former prisons, the nearest being the former Rummu prison.

History and geography

The quarry was formed in the late 1930s for open mining of limestone and Vasalemma marble. The latter is a specific kind of limestone with its structure and texture resembling that of marble. Excavation was performed as hard labour by Murru and Rummu prisoners. The inmates excavated and processed limestone from the water-drained quarry until 1990s, when pumping of water ceased, and the quarry quickly filled with groundwater, immersing in it some of the utility buildings and machinery, thus forming a lake. Next to the lake is the Vasalemma spoil tip (slag heap). Over time, the spoil tip got its unique appearance through erosion by water.

The Rummu open-air prison was merged with the Murru prison in the 1990s, which itself was closed on 31 December 2012.

Change of purpose

The Rummu quarry had become a featured location for nature photography, hiking,[1] scuba diving, as a summer spot,[2] musical[3] and sports events,[4] and as a filming location for its unique layout. The site was depicted in the post-apocalyptic short film The Most Beautiful Day (by Einar Kuusk),[5] and in the video for Alan Walker's hit song "Faded".

Water danger

Jump-diving into the lake off derelict buildings is very dangerous, and professional divers have made public recommendations against this practice, because the lake bed contains pieces of thick concrete, tree branches, spikes of rebars, metal construction (including machinery), and plenty of barbed wire.[6]

On 7 August 2014, a 17-year-old girl injured her back when jumping into the water off a derelict building.[7]

Late in the day of 21 July 2016, a 35-year-old man was found drowned in the quarry.[8]

Access

The territory is private property, and belongs to KB Auto Eesti OÜ, the CEO of which is Gunnar Bergvald, a former prison official.[9]

The place is practically impossible to access by car, as it's prohibited to stop vehicles near the gate of the road that takes to the quarry. Parking around the Keila–Haapsalu road was problematic during Summer periods, as roadsides were filled with parked cars, making purposeful traffic around them difficult.[9]

In early 2016, the area began to be closed off, because of issues with cars, and because swimming and diving into the lake is dangerous, and the owner has posted relevant warning signs.[9]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rummu quarry.

References

  1. ↑ "Hiking to Rummu ash hill and Lake Rummu". Visit Estonia. 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  2. ↑ Kardoudi, Omar (2014-08-05). "Abandoned Soviet forced labor camp oddly turns into cool fun beach". Sploid/Gizmodo. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  3. ↑ "Rummu Rock 2015 helesinise laguuni kaldal" [Rummu Rock 2015 on the shores of the Blue Lagoon]. Elu24 (in Estonian). Postimees. 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  4. ↑ Parts, Kadi (2016-04-08). "Endise Rummu vangla territooriumil toimub selle hooaja ainus mägirataste eraldistart" [This season's only separate start of mountain bikes to take place on the territory of the former Rummu prison] (in Estonian). Postimees. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  5. ↑ "Einar Kuuse postapokalüptiline lühifilm on nüüd kõigile kättesaadav" [The post-apocalyptic short film by Einar Kuusk is now available to all]. Elu24 (in Estonian). Postimees. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  6. ↑ "Sukeldujad: Rummu karjääris ei tohiks hoonetelt alla hüpata" [Divers: People Shouldn't jump off Buildings at Rummu Quarry] (in Estonian). Postimees. 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  7. ↑ Säde, Merilyn (2014-08-13). "17-aastane tüdruk vigastas Rummu karjääris selga" [17-year-old girl injured her back at the Rummu quarry] (in Estonian). Postimes. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  8. ↑ Mihelson, Helen (2016-07-22). "Rummu karjääris uppus mees" [A man drowned in the Rummu quarry] (in Estonian). Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  9. 1 2 3 Velsker, Liis; Ilvest, Sander (2016-04-18). "Droonifotod ja -video: helesinine laguun Rummu karjääris tahetakse huvilistele sulgeda" [Drone photos and -video: The Blue Lagoon at the Rummu Quarry mulled to be Closed Off to Visitors]. TallinnCity (in Estonian). Postimees. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
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