Overburden Being Pushed By Bulldozer Into Impoundment

Aznalcollar, Nerva, Spain

This mine produces over 125,000 tons of zinc and 3 million ounces of silver per year. In 1998, a tailings reservoir here burst, emptying 7 million cubic meters of waste into the Guadalquivir River, part of one of Europe's largest nature preserves. This river is one of the biggest "heronries" in the Mediterranean region, and winter home to over 500,000 migratory birds. A year after the initial spill, waste was still reportedly leaking into the wetlands at the rate of 22,000 gallons per day.

So Many Thanks to SouthWings for flight support!