Landform modifications within an intramontane urban landscape due to industrial activity, Wałbrzych, SW Poland

Figures & data

Figure 1. Location map. Red line indicates administrative boundaries of Wałbrzych city in SW Poland.

Figure 2. Comparison of landform change in the southern part of Wałbrzych, using archival cartographic materials: A – Messtischblatt at 1:25,000 (1886); B – Messtischblatt at 1:25,000 (1936); C – DTM visualization (terrain elevation data from approximately 2011).

Figure 3. Contemporary view of the southern part of Wałbrzych. Notice large spoil tips (a, b, c), levelled ground left after demolition of a mines and coking plant (d) and railway embankment (e).

Figure 4. Bootleg mining area in the western part of the city, with large spoil tips behind. Bedrock elevations form the skyline.

Table 1. Dimensions of principal landforms due to coal mining activity.

Landform type	Number of individual landforms	Morphometric characteristics	Area (ha)	Height/depth (m)
Spoil tips	52	Min	0.03	2
		Max	42.2	100
		Mean	5.0	20
		Total area	259.2	–
Waste ponds	18	Min	0.06	1
		Max	18.9	9
		Mean	3.4	3
		Total area	60.6	–
Pits (due to subsidence above former shafts)	4	Min	0.03	1.5
		Max	1.0	18
		Mean	0.3	7
		Total area	1.1	–
Levelled terrains after closed mines	2	Total area	80.0	–
Bootleg mining zones	11	Min	0.25	–
		Max	7.7	–
		Mean	2.1	–
		Total area	23.6	–

Figure 5. Large spoil tips with flattened tops, shortly after termination of coal mining activity. Many tips have been completely afforested since, in planned or spontaneous manner.