Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park

1 - In 1902, the industrialist August Thyssen had an ironworks built in Duisburg-Meiderich. In an ironworks, pig iron is extracted from iron ore in enormous blast furnaces. This requires temperatures of 2,000 degrees, achieved by burning large quantities of coal. Conveniently, August Thyssen owned several nearby coal mines that supplied fuel for his blast furnaces. 2 - For about 82 years, this ironworks produced pig iron, which was further processed at other Thyssen company plants. It is estimated that 57 million tonnes of pig iron were produced during this time. By the end, however, only one of the five blast furnaces was still operating. Too much steel was being produced worldwide, so the ironworks stopped production in 1985. Many people lost their jobs. 3 - After it closed, a large area of 200,000 square metres remained, covered with huge industrial facilities that were no longer needed. But interested citizens soon came up with new ideas. People should still be able to get an impression of what the old industrial works had once looked like. 4 - Many people helped turn the former ironworks into Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Most of the old facilities were preserved, but repurposed and used in completely different ways. They have been open to visitors since 1994. Before long, the park was nicknamed "Landi". 5 - Gas had once been stored in the enormous gasometer. It was later converted into a diving pool that can hold up to 20,000 cubic metres of water. It is used by recreational divers, as well as by the police and fire brigade for training. 6 - A former ore storage bunker is now home to a climbing park. At the old blast furnace 5, visitors can climb to a height of 70 m and enjoy a good view of Duisburg from the top. 7 - A cinema was built where molten iron used to be tapped from blast furnace 1. The blower house was converted into a theatre with 500 seats. Another building houses an exhibition about the history of the ironworks. 8 - A wind turbine now powers pumps that draw water from the Alte Emscher to irrigate the gardens. "Landi" is particularly impressive on weekends and public holidays, when the old industrial facilities are illuminated in colour after dark.