Republic Mine Overlook, Michigan

The Republic Mine Overlook overlooks the transformed landscape of a large open pit iron mine, which operated from the 1950s to 1982, and now lies abandoned, and somewhat available for exploration. The pit is 600 feet deep, mostly flooded, and covers 250 acres, while the area of tailings, overburden, and former processing facilities, cover an area of around 4 square miles. It is one of a few Upper Peninsula Iron Range mines that supplied iron ore to the steel industry, and was owned by Cleveland Cliffs. Mines to the east still operate.