Schalke Pyramid

The mountains from within the depths of the earth

With every journey into the depths of the mine, the miners bring pieces of the mountain back up with them. But it's not just pure coal that comes up. Normal rock that cannot be utilised also finds its way to the surface. Bringing them back to into the mine is too costly. Another solution has to be found.

Industrieanlagen und verschiedene Gebäude der Kokerei der Zeche Consolidation 1/6 in Schalke.

Industrial jungle

Today, the pyramid lies slightly behind the former site of the Consolidation Colliery 1/6 coking plant. In the past, the view was clearly restricted by the industrial facilities.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

Die Fotografie zeigt eine Halde. Die Aufnahme wurde von unten aufgenommen. Die Halde wirkt massiv.

The mountains of the ruhr area

Everything that was not coal was collected above ground in stockpiles. They quickly reached gigantic heights. The photograph shows a slag heap at Concordia colliery in Oberhausen.

Source: Ruhr Museum

Slagheaps on fire

Coal was also 'stockpiled' when prices were not good. Sometimes, however, the stockpiled coal caught fire. The local fire brigade had to be called.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

Neben einer Zeche ist eine Halde zu sehen. Sie ist fast genauso hoch wie die Fördertürme und Schornsteine.

Rapid growth

The slag heaps quickly towered over the other buildings in their vicinity. Here, the Helene colliery spoil tip in Altenessen is almost as high as the colliery itself.

Source: Ruhr Museum

For 200 years, miners have been digging and shovelling their way through the earth of the Ruhr area. Every day they bring the coal up, mine car after mine car. In December 2018, the last piece between the Emscher and Ruhr rivers will be excavated. Coal mining in the Ruhr region is over. A total of 10 billion tonnes of coal have been mined here. Overnight, the region is losing what has given it its identity for almost 200 years. But with the long farewell to coal mining, the appearance of the cities began to change. More and more pitheads disappeared from the townscape and most of the chimneys stopped smoking long ago. But another legacy is still visible throughout the Ruhr. Not everything that was brought up from the depths could be burned in the furnaces. Excess rock and earth always find their way to the surface along with the coal. But what to do with the worthless rocks? Taking them back to the mine is too expensive. Instead, they are piled up to hills. These spoil tips can still be found all over the Ruhr area today.

Today, the spoil tips turn the Ruhr region into a mountain landscape. The author Wolfgang Berke states in his slagheap guide "Über alle Berge" ("Across all mountains") that over 70 spoil tips are visible. But 200 years ago, when mining began, these elevations did not yet exist. Strictly speaking, they are the "waste" of mining. The winding towers of Consolidation Colliery 1/6 have also long since disappeared from Schalke's cityscape. What remains is a small pyramid overgrown with grass. Those who make the effort to climb to its top are rewarded with a sweeping view over Schalke and Gelsenkirchen. Where 170 years ago the Emscher still flowed calmly through a green meadow landscape, this huge city has emerged. Nature gave way to industry, industry attracted people. Over the decades, this dense network of industrial complexes, residential buildings, the Glückauf Stadium and the Schalke Market emerged.

Eine kleine, mit Gras bewachsene Pyramide ragt in den bewölkten Himmel über Gelsenkirchen-Schalke.

The pyramid of Schalke

The pyramid was opened by the Montan-Grundstücksgesellschaft in 2006 as a green and accessible landscape structure.

Source: mxr storytelling gmbh

Blick von der Spitze der Pyramide in Schalke über Gelsenkirchen. Am Horizont ist die Arena auf Schalke zu erkennen.

Viewpoint

The pyramid offers a good overview of large parts of Schalke and Gelsenkirchen. The arena can also be seen on the horizon.

Source: mxr storytelling gmbh

Eine Treppe führt zwischen kahlen Bäumen hinauf.

Hidden stairs

Access to the pyramid is somewhat hidden. It can be reached via Scheuten-Solar-Straße in Gelsenkirchen-Schalke.

Source: mxr storytelling gmbh

The hills which were originally formed with the waste of the mining activities are now turning out to be one of the treasures of the Ruhr region. Many of the larger spoil tips have been turned into green recreation areas. Today they are popular destinations for excursions and leisure activities. In Gelsenkirchen, these include the Slag Heap "Rheinelbe" and the Slag Heap "Rungenberg" in Buer. 37 million tonnes of excess rock were piled up to build the "roof of Gelsenkirchen". One must climb 299 steps in order to reach the top in 70 metres height. In contrast to the rest of the spoil tip, it is not covered in greenery. Instead, it retains its original grey colour. From here you can enjoy a sweeping view over Gelsenkirchen. In summer, the paths on and around the spoil tip are ideal for hiking and cycling. In winter, the slopes are popular sledging areas. The spoil tips of the Ruhr region are a good example of how the legacy of mining has been accepted by people and transformed for modern life.