Journey to Mars: Ukrainian Kryvyi Rih you didn't know

What has every Ukrainian heard about this city? Perhaps that it is industrial, gray, sometimes uninteresting, and recently quite dangerous due to frequent air raid alerts. Therefore, most travelers do not consider it a tourist destination. But after getting to know it better, people immediately change their minds.

In fact, Kryvyi Rih is fantastic, mysterious, and a bit like an alien homeworld. After all, there are deep Martian craters here. Of course, they are man-made, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful.

Read below to find out which attractions are worth visiting.

The observation deck of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant (GOK)

A huge quarry was formed not far from the city. Its shape and red spots resemble the fourth planet of the solar system. The size of the gorge is impressive. Locals say that it can accommodate several small principalities.

The idea to open an observation deck on the territory of the industrial facility arose when there were so many people who wanted to see this miracle that no security guards could scare them away. So now you can come here at any time, even in winter. There are trailers, BELAZ trucks, and cranes on different levels below. From above, they seem very tiny, almost toy-like.

Kryvyi Rih high-speed tram

This city has the only metro tram in Ukraine. Transport moves not only through the streets but also through underground passages. Four stations of the route are located deep underground. You take a seat "on the surface" and after a while you will find yourself in the Kyiv or Kharkiv subway.

Hvardiiska mine

This is a kind of exclusion zone where you can see how ore is mined. Only a few people in Ukraine know about this beauty, but thousands of people abroad do. It is the largest and most powerful mine in Europe.

You can get here as part of an excursion group. The lecture lasts about three hours. Before the underground walk, you have to undergo a medical examination and, of course, a briefing. Every visitor must behave properly in the mine because it works around the clock, not stopping for a minute. The maximum depth to which guests can go is 1430 meters.

During the trip, the guide demonstrates the drilling process and how trolleys are unloaded, as well as shows places where workers can hide in case of emergency, etc.

Museum of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant

This exhibition hall was opened quite recently in 2015. Today, there are more than 1,500 exhibits. They include not only minerals but also models of enterprises, factories, machinery, and samples of outdated and modern equipment.

There is also a 3D projection. It was made to show visitors the specifics of mining operations: from blasting to mining. The museum's doors are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00. Individual tours are held every Tuesday and Thursday.

The location can be reached by tram #5 or bus #210.

Man-made Red Lake

The pond was artificially created in the 60s of the last century. It was dug not for beauty but to drain the water used in iron ore mining. The color of the pond has an unusually crimson hue. It does not change throughout the year. This color is caused by bromine, iodine, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Locals and visitors are crazy about this location. However, environmentalists are sounding the alarm. Most of them are convinced that the lake threatens the ecosystem of the Dnipro. The water here is overly mineralized and is gradually destroying the flora and fauna of our country's main river.

ArcelorMittal Museum

Another modern exhibition hall worth visiting. More than 5000 unique exhibits are collected here. The premises are divided into 3 halls. The first is dedicated to the period of the plant's construction, its launch and destruction by the Nazis. The second one tells about the achievements of the modern times, and the third one shows the production processes.

The museum is located at 10 Domnobydivelnykiv Street.

Kochubeivskyi mine

This is the oldest adit in Kryvyi Rih, which for a long time was not even mentioned by the locals. They started talking about the location during the filming of the Ukrainian movie Red, and since then, tourists have been coming here all the time. Many passages have been dug in the rocks, some of them stretching for 200 meters. By the way, there are many decorations left here, such as wooden stairs and a lift.

You can get to the mine on your own, just bring a flashlight. The mine is not located in the city itself but near the village of Hannivka in the Petrivskyi district of the Kropyvnytskyi region.

For those who want to go beyond the usual travel, we recommend going to Kryvyi Rih. You should definitely see and appreciate the beauty of this region.

Important: It is better to go here after the victory. The city regularly suffers from shelling.

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