Coal mining & steel production were at the heart of the Ruhrgebiet. Other regions started to produce the materials cheaper and over the course of decades, the coal and later the steel production declined.
In 2008, the last (underground) coal mine in Germany was closed. Some open pit lignite mining continues to this day and into the future.

As part of the cleanup & revitalization effort, many areas were landscaped and often are now parks. Some industrial building will be preserved as examples of their architecture and plans are underway to turn them into museums, art & concert venues, workspace for new enterprises.


Shown here is "Zeche Ewald"

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