MELISSA FARLOW_MM7139_985667-2.TIF
Workers ride an elevator up as they come off shift working to seal off a mercury mine. It is a 500 year old problem that has polluted underground water in Idrija and surrounding areas although closed in 1995. It was the second largest in the world. Mercury can be used to extract silver and gold, therefore the silver and gold-rush motivated mercury mining. The mining industry brought science, technological advancements, and industry to this mountainous region but it also created considerable medical problems and health hazard due to its toxicity.
- Copyright
- MELISSA FARLOW
- Image Size
- 6000x4000 / 137.4MB
- Keywords
-
clothing, conservation, construction projects, disasters, environmental conservation, environmental damage, equipment, europe, hardware, industrial laborers, industrial mines, industry and production, laborers, mercury industry and production, nails etc. (hardware), slovenia, water conservation and protection, yugoslavia
- Contained in galleries
- Alps_National Geographic magazine 2/2006

