Coal pit lakes in abandoned mining areas in León (NW Spain): characteristics and geoecological significance

Abstract Mining activity introduces severe changes in landscapes and, subsequently, land uses. One of the most singular is existence pit lakes, which occur active more frequently, abandoned mines. Pit lakes are produced by water table interception when open-pit mines deepen. Their characteristics highly variable, depending on type mine, environment or climate. In León province there a long tradition coal mining that dates back to nineteenth century, and hundreds open pits from 1970s 2018 have been opened, producing permanent landscape changes. This work analyses main parameters, including morphological measurements, depth pH values obtained aerial photos field work, 76 than 30 m length. The vast majority these were unknown until now not included inventories maps. data provide baseline knowledge will allow, future, potential uses (storage for various uses, recreational use, wildlife habitat, geological heritage sites) establish their importance as new geoecological environment.