Can the (post)mining town be a tourist attractions? Reflections based on research of the role of mining in the urban development in the selected countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa Cover Image

Czy miasto (po)górnicze może być atrakcją turystyczną? Refleksje nawiązujące do badań roli miastotwórczej górnictwa w wybranych krajach Afryki Sub-Saharyjskiej
Can the (post)mining town be a tourist attractions? Reflections based on research of the role of mining in the urban development in the selected countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa

Author(s): Andrzej Kowalczyk
Subject(s): Human Geography, Local History / Microhistory, Tourism
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: mining;town;Africa;tourism;

Summary/Abstract: Since ancient times, extraction of mineral resources has been one of the most important city-forming factors. However, due to various natural and anthropogenic conditions mining cities both quickly appear and disappear. In Poland, the problem of mining cities in Sub-Saharan Africa was dealt with in the 1970s by An-drzej Lisowski. Although many years have passed since then, mining is still the main function of many African cities. However, this does not apply to all cities whose emergence was associated with the discovery of mineral resources, as in some of them the mining function became secondary or even disappeared. Therefore, as part of the restructuring of former mining centers, some of them gained new functions, including tourist ones. The aim of this article is to trace the history of the emergence, development and disappearance (or limitation) of mining functions in towns located in two countries in Southern Africa – the Republic of South Africa (Pilgrim’s Rest and Okiep) and Namibia (Kolmanskop and Tsumeb), as well as to address their attractiveness as tourist resorts.

  • Issue Year: 65/2020
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 39-81
  • Page Count: 43
  • Language: Polish