When I saw this photo for the first time, I still could not understand how not to be afraid that water would rush into this hole and flood everything there.
The Diavik diamond mine is located in the northern part of Slave Lake in northwestern Canada, 300 kilometers from the city of Yellowknife. It is jointly owned by Harry Winston Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc (a subsidiary of the Rio Tinto group).
After surveying the area in 1992, construction began on the open pit, which began production in January 2003. The quarry includes 3 kimberlite pipes, which are part of the Lac de Gras kimberlite field, located on the island of the same name with an area of 20 sq. km. 220 km. from the Arctic Circle.
The mine life is expected to be between 16 and 22 years. It has become an important part of the region's economy, employing more than 700 people and mining 8 million carats (1600 kg) of diamonds worth $ 100 million annually. The quarry is located on the islands and has its own infrastructure with an airport capable of receiving passenger Boeings.
The icy road connects the quarry to the 1.5-mile gravel runway that regularly hosts the Boeing 737. In 2006, the icy road from Yellowstone to Dyavik and neighboring quarries froze late and melted early. All the remaining multi-ton mining equipment had to be delivered by air.
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