Curious About the CSA Quarry’s Past and Future? Embark on a Virtual Biosafari

Biosafari provides those who are interested a guided tour of the whole CSA quarry area. The upcoming tour features fifteen stops that are packed with information, both visually and verbally. Once the Biosafari tour concludes, there will be nothing left in the CSA quarry that remains hidden from those using Biosafari. The Coal Safari has gained considerable popularity among the public over its 15 years of operation. Tourists have been drawn to the exploration of the active quarry and the landscape that the Sev.en Česká energie Group is returning to nature and people after the mining process. The Virtual Biosafari will carry on this initiative. It will showcase the most fascinating aspects that the open-pit quarry and the post-mining landscape have to offer, not just through the app, but throughout the year during open days.

Starting in mid-July 2025, the miners will permanently open paths that have been previously off-limits, offering those interested the chance to walk to a gazebo featuring a sundial, where they can view the areas that have already been restored, alongside spots that will remain as natural habitats. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the bottom of the mining pit, where water is already flowing into what will become a lake. To assist visitors in tracking how quickly the lake is filling, a time-lapse video will be available through the Biosafari app. Water is flowing into the lake from the slopes of the mountains and from groundwater, but currently, it is only about 20 meters deep. Those who wish can explore the countryside by walking or by biking and can reach locations like the Hedwig and Marcel lakes. Miners will mark any areas that are still hazardous. The Biosafari app is available for free download on Google Play.

The quarry tour features fifteen informative stops

Across more than 4,500 hectares of land in the CSA quarry area, restoration efforts have taken place or are underway. This primarily includes forests, ponds, wetlands, farmland, and meadows. Workers involved in restoration have planted around 10,000 forest seedlings per hectare on average. The areas created through hydraulic restoration have now become a favored nesting site for birds and an ornithological haven. Close to logging equipment, crops are being cultivated with organic quality. Experiencing the reclamation process is captivating, even if only viewed through virtual reality.

Users of the app will be able to see a coal seam and go on a virtual tour of the impressive RK5000 large machine. They will also learn all about the future lake forming at the bottom of the mining pit. An intriguing stop on the tour is the Viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the entire quarry. This viewpoint is associated with the Podkrušnohorské Technical Museum, which has prepared fascinating information regarding the history of lignite mining in Most. The subsequent stops focus on the natural restoration of the landscape after mining, highlighting that traditional reclamation methods aren’t sufficient everywhere. Certain parts of the area will be left to grow naturally, without human intervention. Thanks to this approach of ecological restoration, a unique and diverse landscape with many different plant and animal species will be preserved. This new landscape will provide a distinctive and appealing location in the Most region of Europe.

In the following sections, Biosafari visitors will learn about the Ohře River Basin’s initiative to restore the Bílina River to its original channel. In 2026, the Sev.en Group plans to begin construction, during which the revitalization of the Bílina River will take place along the Ervenice Corridor. This project aims to return the watercourse to its natural setting by creating a new earthen meandering channel along with pools. Thanks to natural recovery efforts, the CSA quarry has already turned into a haven for endangered species of plants and animals. Approximately 300 endangered species are already noted on the Red Lists, with an additional 100 species being specially protected by law. This includes 24 species of protected plants. The Biosafari app also explores how vegetation grows on sites after coal mining and examines whether it’s better to rehabilitate these areas or allow them to develop naturally. It is expected that the miners will vacate the CSA quarry in 2027, leaving the site for further restoration and natural growth.