Welcome to RioTinto Land
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Rivers with scarlet red waters and orange-hued lands reminiscent of Mars? Welcome to the Rio Tinto mining basin, where landscapes seem pulled from a science fiction novel.
In the foothills of Andalusia, the scenery of the mining industry has become a boon for tourism. With vast excavations presented as “handmade landscapes” and the highly “Instagrammable” red waters of the Rio Tinto (the "Red River") tinted by metal pollution, these ecological disasters have been turned by authorities into a tourist attraction celebrating mining. Visitors can for example take a "Martian expedition" to observe similarities with the red planet. It redirects attention from the ecological and health threats of the industry, especially as mining activity is resurging both here and across Europe.
In the village of Minas de Rio Tinto, next to the actual active copper mine, “everyone on my street has died of cancer” says Mr. Munoz, a retiree who cleans the grave of his son, dead from cancer at 41 and now covered in mining dust. But these effects are mentioned only distantly in the attractions, leaving visitors with a colorful, idyllic journey of space exploration.
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In this new mining era triggered by digital and electrical transition, this photographic essay tells the story of how the mining industry rewrites a technological and environmental narrative through tourism
“I’m not against these tourist attraction but they don’t talk about the environmental impact. There is currently some mine drainage leading to the rivers’ contamination.” Juan Romero, activist with Ecologistas en Acción in the Rio Tinto mining basin. Minas de Rio Tinto, April 2024. “I’m not against these tourist attraction but they don’t talk about the environmental impact. There is currently some mine drainage leading to the rivers’ contamination.” Juan Romero, activist with Ecologistas en Acción in the Rio Tinto mining basin. Minas de Rio Tinto, April 2024.
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The tourist train from the mine returns to the station, located at the foot of the current copper mine, with its tailings visible in the background. During the visit, there is no mention of any impact from the recent mining activities on the ecosystems. "There are worse things than this, like in Aznalcóllar," shares Carmen, a local tourist. April 2024. The tourist train from the mine returns to the station, located at the foot of the current copper mine, with its tailings visible in the background. During the visit, there is no mention of any impact from the recent mining activities on the ecosystems. "There are worse things than this, like in Aznalcóllar," shares Carmen, a local tourist. April 2024.
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A mine train has been restored to take tourists along the Rio Tinto river, winding through the historic mining landscapes. Over the loudspeakers, the message emphasizes the need for copper extraction to support global electric and digital transitions. "With European laws, everything has to be clean," remarks an English tourist, a space exploration enthusiast, when asked if today’s industry might impact the environment. Minas de Rio Tinto, April 2024. A mine train has been restored to take tourists along the Rio Tinto river, winding through the historic mining landscapes. Over the loudspeakers, the message emphasizes the need for copper extraction to support global electric and digital transitions. "With European laws, everything has to be clean," remarks an English tourist, a space exploration enthusiast, when asked if today’s industry might impact the environment. Minas de Rio Tinto, April 2024.
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Amid the ruins of former British mines, the Rio Tinto Foundation, tasked with showcasing the mining heritage, has set up a Mission to Mars attraction. NASA has even conducted tests on extremophile particles here as part of their research on potential life on Mars. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024. Amid the ruins of former British mines, the Rio Tinto Foundation, tasked with showcasing the mining heritage, has set up a Mission to Mars attraction. NASA has even conducted tests on extremophile particles here as part of their research on potential life on Mars. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024.
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“It’s fantastic, it really feels like we’re on another planet,” says Carmen, who is vacationing in the area with her in-laws. They are in the Mission to Mars tourist attraction. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024. “It’s fantastic, it really feels like we’re on another planet,” says Carmen, who is vacationing in the area with her in-laws. They are in the Mission to Mars tourist attraction. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024.
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Amid the ruins of former British mines, the Rio Tinto Foundation, tasked with showcasing the mining heritage, has set up a Mission to Mars attraction. NASA has even conducted tests on extremophile particles here as part of their research on potential life on Mars. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024. Amid the ruins of former British mines, the Rio Tinto Foundation, tasked with showcasing the mining heritage, has set up a Mission to Mars attraction. NASA has even conducted tests on extremophile particles here as part of their research on potential life on Mars. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024.
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Three tourists in the mining museum of Minas de Río Tinto. Behind them is a map of the old railway line along the Río Tinto (in red), which flows into the Río Odiel on the far left before reaching the Atlantic. Together, they discharge 40% of the zinc found in the world's oceans. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024. Three tourists in the mining museum of Minas de Río Tinto. Behind them is a map of the old railway line along the Río Tinto (in red), which flows into the Río Odiel on the far left before reaching the Atlantic. Together, they discharge 40% of the zinc found in the world's oceans. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024.
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The Río Tinto, along with the Río Odiel, carries vast amounts of dissolved pollutants to the Huelva estuary: 1,700 tons/year of copper, 170 tons/year of arsenic and lead. This makes the Ría de Huelva one of the most polluted estuaries in Europe. April 2024. The Río Tinto, along with the Río Odiel, carries vast amounts of dissolved pollutants to the Huelva estuary: 1,700 tons/year of copper, 170 tons/year of arsenic and lead. This makes the Ría de Huelva one of the most polluted estuaries in Europe. April 2024.
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"My father didn't want me to work in the mine; it's too violent," says Noel, a young flamenco singer from the El Alto neighborhood. His father struggles with drug issues. His grandmother was the first woman in the region to be able to play flamenco guitar. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024. "My father didn't want me to work in the mine; it's too violent," says Noel, a young flamenco singer from the El Alto neighborhood. His father struggles with drug issues. His grandmother was the first woman in the region to be able to play flamenco guitar. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024.
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"When we see the landscapes changing, it's reassuring; it means there is economic activity and jobs," says the park director. The sign reads "a landscape made by hand." There is a deep attachment among the population to this aspect of the mining landscape. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024. "When we see the landscapes changing, it's reassuring; it means there is economic activity and jobs," says the park director. The sign reads "a landscape made by hand." There is a deep attachment among the population to this aspect of the mining landscape. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024.
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An Argentine tourist watches the daily explosion at the bottom of the open-pit Colorado mine. His camper van is parked at a viewpoint overlooking the mine. The road he took to get here and the viewpoint will likely no longer exist in a year: the mine is expanding. It is nowhere mentionned. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024. An Argentine tourist watches the daily explosion at the bottom of the open-pit Colorado mine. His camper van is parked at a viewpoint overlooking the mine. The road he took to get here and the viewpoint will likely no longer exist in a year: the mine is expanding. It is nowhere mentionned. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024.
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The Colorado mine, which is part of the Riotinto complex (extraction of copper and gold), closed in 2001 and then reopened in 2015 when the mine became profitable again. In the interim, the village fell into economic stagnation. Originally, the village was located at the bottom of this pit but had to be evacuated and relocated due to the successive expansions of the mine. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024. The Colorado mine, which is part of the Riotinto complex (extraction of copper and gold), closed in 2001 and then reopened in 2015 when the mine became profitable again. In the interim, the village fell into economic stagnation. Originally, the village was located at the bottom of this pit but had to be evacuated and relocated due to the successive expansions of the mine. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024.
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The El Alto neighborhood consists of old miners' houses. It is the most precarious area of the city, located right on the edge of the mine. In the past few years, rocks from the daily explosion have fallen on one of the houses in the neighborhood twice. Although the mine expands year by year, "the neighborhood will not be destroyed by the mine," certifies the director of the tourist park. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024. The El Alto neighborhood consists of old miners' houses. It is the most precarious area of the city, located right on the edge of the mine. In the past few years, rocks from the daily explosion have fallen on one of the houses in the neighborhood twice. Although the mine expands year by year, "the neighborhood will not be destroyed by the mine," certifies the director of the tourist park. Minas de Río Tinto, April 2024.
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Festival d'automne dans le quartier d'El Alto. Une étude de 2022 a révélé la présence de métaux lourds tels que le plomb et l'arsenic dans les sols de ce quartier et d'autres plus éloignés dans la ville. Minas de Río Tinto, avril 2024. Festival d'automne dans le quartier d'El Alto. Une étude de 2022 a révélé la présence de métaux lourds tels que le plomb et l'arsenic dans les sols de ce quartier et d'autres plus éloignés dans la ville. Minas de Río Tinto, avril 2024.
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"We come every day to clean our son Marco's grave; otherwise, the dust covers it too much," say the Munoz Rodriguez family about their son who died of cancer at the age of 41. "In our street, everyone has died of cancer, but I don't think it's related to the mine," Mr. Munoz observes. Although cancers are prevalent, no connection to the industry has been established. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024. "We come every day to clean our son Marco's grave; otherwise, the dust covers it too much," say the Munoz Rodriguez family about their son who died of cancer at the age of 41. "In our street, everyone has died of cancer, but I don't think it's related to the mine," Mr. Munoz observes. Although cancers are prevalent, no connection to the industry has been established. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024.
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"From my generation in the village, there are only three of us left, including me; all the others have been taken by silicosis," says Horacio, 82, who worked for 32 years in the mine. He agrees that working conditions have improved significantly today. One of his sons, also named Horacio, has engaged in cultural resistance against the mine and advocates for a connection to the land through miners' gardens. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024. "From my generation in the village, there are only three of us left, including me; all the others have been taken by silicosis," says Horacio, 82, who worked for 32 years in the mine. He agrees that working conditions have improved significantly today. One of his sons, also named Horacio, has engaged in cultural resistance against the mine and advocates for a connection to the land through miners' gardens. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024.
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During the Esquila, a week-long religious celebration, tradition dictates that singing stops when passing in front of a house where someone has died. At this house, Alejandro's father, 65, passed away from cancer, and the group stopped singing. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024. During the Esquila, a week-long religious celebration, tradition dictates that singing stops when passing in front of a house where someone has died. At this house, Alejandro's father, 65, passed away from cancer, and the group stopped singing. Minas de Río Tinto, October 2024.
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The procession La Esquila arrives in the town church. For a week, the esquileros go from house to house, singing to their brothers of a merciful death when it comes. Today, working conditions have improved since the 1970s, but there is still a high mortality rate from cancer. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024. The procession La Esquila arrives in the town church. For a week, the esquileros go from house to house, singing to their brothers of a merciful death when it comes. Today, working conditions have improved since the 1970s, but there is still a high mortality rate from cancer. Minas de Rio Tinto, October 2024.
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A student in biology takes a sample of water at the source of the Rio Tinto river. April 2024. A student in biology takes a sample of water at the source of the Rio Tinto river. April 2024.
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