14 Feb Phalaborwa Copper Mine – Viewpoint
A little known place of interest is the Phalaborwa Copper mine viewpoint about 7 km south of the town along Koper street to the mine entrance. The viewpoint is open to the public during the daytime and gives wonderful views over the “Big Hole ‘ and surrounding lowveld. A great spot for landscape, sunrise or sunset images.
The open cast copper mine was opened in 1964 and is the widest man made hole in Africa with a width of 1.8 km and being 450 m deep. The viewpoint is the spoil from the mine, and adds a viewing platform about 300 meters high over the fairly level surrounding countryside on the border of the Kruger National Park.
The opencast mining closed in 2002, but underground exploitation, now takes place. The viewpoint is well worth a visit and gives panoramic views over the “Big Hole”. Elephant and Buffalo can be spotted in the huge area of worked out ground, but appear as small specks on the landscape.