Observation point of YuGOK, Kriviy Rih

A pit as deep as the Eiffel Tower — and then a bit more. The YUGOK quarry goes 340 metres into the earth, stretches three kilometres long and two and a half wide. This is not just a quarry but a man-made canyon visible even from space.

The YUGOK quarry (of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant, also known as PivdGZK) is one of Europe’s deepest iron ore quarries and the most spectacular industrial site in Kryvyi Rih.

Quick Facts

What It Is and Why Visit

Kryvyi Rih is the iron heart of Ukraine, and the YUGOK quarry is its largest «chamber.» Unlike the flooded quarry lakes, this one is active: explosions still thunder here, dump trucks the size of buildings crawl across the floor, and millions of tonnes of ore are extracted every year.

People come for one thing — scale. From the viewing platform you look out over more than 570 hectares of terraced walls descending into the earth. It is the kind of view that takes your breath away: a gigantic man-made funnel that looks more like a sci-fi film set than a real landscape.

About 340 metres deep — that is roughly the Eiffel Tower turned upside down and buried. The dump trucks on the floor look like toys from above.

History: The Quarry That Grows Downward

The Southern Mining and Processing Plant was the first iron ore processing plant in Kryvyi Rih — it launched in 1955. Since then the quarry has relentlessly «grown» — not upward but downward, going deeper into the earth with each passing year.

Today it is one of Europe’s deepest iron ore quarries: about 340 metres deep, three kilometres long and two and a half wide. Millions of tonnes of ore and concentrate are extracted here every year. In essence you are looking at seven decades of continuous work «recorded» in layers on the quarry walls.

Legends and Interesting Facts

A gigantic hole in the middle of a steppe inevitably generates both record facts and near-legends.

1. Visible from Space

Kryvyi Rih’s quarries are so large that they are clearly visible on satellite maps. Locals say with pride: «our hole is on orbital photos.» And it is the plain truth.

2. Its Own Microclimate

People say the bottom of such deep quarries has «its own weather»: fog, temperature swings, different air circulation. There is some truth to this — a huge funnel does affect the local climate.

3. The Serpentine Road to the Bottom

Access roads wind down the quarry walls in a giant switchback. It is said that a dump truck’s trip to the bottom and back is a whole «journey» lasting tens of minutes. A scale that makes your head spin.

What to See and Do

Viewing platform. The main (and safest) vantage point: from here you take in the full scale of the quarry.

Machinery at work. If you are lucky you will see giant excavators and dump trucks operating on the floor below.

Panoramic photos. Terraced walls descending into the earth — an extraordinary industrial shot.

Industrial Kryvyi Rih. Easily combined with other industrial sites in the city.

Getting There

By car. The quarry is on the YUGOK (PivdGZK) plant site within Kryvyi Rih. Navigate to the YUGOK viewing platform.

Access. The entire plant territory is fenced; entry requires a pass through the gatehouse. Independent visitors can use the public viewing platform only. A guided tour is the most convenient option.

Important. This is an active high-hazard industrial site in a frontline region. Monitor the security situation and air alerts.

Visitor Checklist

• Camera: the scale alone makes the trip worthwhile.
• Sturdy shoes: industrial ground is uneven.
• Water: no facilities on site.
• Pass / guided tour: without these you cannot access the site.

What NOT to do: attempt to enter without a permit; approach the quarry rim outside the viewing platform; fly a drone without checking restrictions (secure facility); ignore air alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep is the YUGOK quarry?

About 340 metres — making it one of Europe’s deepest iron ore quarries. It is approximately 3 km long and 2.5 km wide.

Can visitors access the site?

The entire plant is fenced; entry requires a pass through the gatehouse. The public viewing platform is accessible to tourists; a guided tour is the most convenient option.

Is the quarry still active?

Yes. YUGOK has been operating since 1955 and extracts millions of tonnes of ore every year. This is an active quarry, not an abandoned one.

Is it safe to visit during the war?

Kryvyi Rih is a frontline city and the plant is a secure facility. Check the security situation, don’t fly a drone, and respond to air alerts.

The YUGOK quarry is Kryvyi Rih’s own Grand Canyon: 340 metres down, seven decades of labour and a view that makes your head spin. This is where you understand what it cost Ukraine to become «a nation of iron.»

Look into this abyss from the viewing platform, feel the scale of human work — and don’t try to «get closer.» Some records are best appreciated at a safe distance.