On the very outskirts of Dnipro, 20 kilometers from the city in the village of Taromskoye, there is an interesting spot for recreation and historical exploration. It is the Taromsk Quarry, which, despite its history spanning more than half a century, many are only just beginning to discover.
The History of the Tarom Quarry
Granite mining began at the Taromsky Quarry in the early 1950s. At first, it was a small-scale operation, with local residents extracting stone for their own construction projects. Then the government stepped in, and industrial-scale production began.
Raw materials from the quarry supplied Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro city) and Dniprodzerzhynsk (Kamenskoye). It was a strategic enterprise, and even though locals disliked the constant explosions that shook their homes, production was not shut down.
At some point, the depth of the quarry fell below the level of the Dnipro (the river is 50 meters away from it here), after which flooding began.
As a result, two lakes formed in the quarry pits. One large one—400 by 140 meters—and a small one—180 by 150 meters. They say they are 10 meters deep. But no one has verified this.
In the 1980s, granite mining was finally shut down, after which the facility remained closed. It was fenced off, and there were no people there.
The Tarom Quarry Now
Since Ukraine gained independence and the city has developed, not only local fishermen but also tourists from the city have begun to visit. People come here with tents to relax for a few days, or just to spend a couple of hours swimming, fishing, and enjoying nature.
The large lake is more accessible. You can meet people here, and there’s even a small campground with a few cozy gazebos. The small lake is nearby, but it lacks gentle shores, so there are no people here and the area is overgrown with trees. There are many large boulders in the water, and this inaccessibility only adds to its beauty.
The quarry area is still fenced off, though there are holes in the fence now, so you can easily drive in. There’s a lot of trash along the way to the water, and tourists leave behind not just bottles and labels—there’s a lot of human waste, which is sad.
On the way to the lakes, you can see the abandoned factory buildings—empty concrete boxes. The equipment was removed long ago. There are three buildings in total—one administrative, one production, and one warehouse.
The Taromsky Quarry is home to many beautiful and rare plants. There are animals that have settled here since the factory closed. The quarry lakes are home to pike and crucian carp.
This place will also be of interest to enthusiasts of Earth’s history. Fossils of the planet’s ancient inhabitants have been found in the granite on multiple occasions. Therefore, I think there will be many more expeditions here by scientists or simply enthusiasts.
Legends of the Tarom Quarry
Local residents don’t really like coming here to relax.
First of all, there’s the sad story of the houses cracked by explosions.
Then there are rumors that in the 1990s, criminal gangs took a liking to this area and not only practiced their skills here but also found bodies in the water.
Later, rock climbers and police special forces took their place.
Now people say that eating fish from the quarry is dangerous because it’s radioactive. In principle, there are elevated levels of thorium and uranium here. However, they do not pose a threat to human life or health.
People also talk about strange creatures living in the water and sunken machinery that could pose a danger to divers. They say there might be crevices and holes in the rocks underwater that pull people in, and no one has ever seen them again. There is also a legend about the spirits of workers who died under the rubble and cannot escape from the debris.
How to get to the Taromsky Quarry
Location of the Taromsky Quarry.
- If you’re driving, take Mostovaya Street, which runs from Dnipro to Kamenskoye.
- If you’re taking the bus, take routes #9 or #141. They depart from the train station.
- You need to get to the intersection of Mostovaya Street and Mikhail Loyan Street.
- Another option is to take the Dnipro-Kamenskoye commuter train. You should get off at the Sukhachevka station. However, it is 11 km from there to the Taromsky Quarry.
It’s best to visit the quarry during the warmer months and on a sunny day. It’s not very pretty in the winter, and it’s a bit gloomy in the fall. But that’s really a matter of personal taste.