Babina Mine Entrance Gate – Source of Acid Mine Drainage loop from Łęknica

Hiking trails & Routes

Lower Lusatia

Żary

Łęknica

Babina Mine Entrance Gate – Source of Acid Mine Drainage loop from Łęknica

Easy

4.8

(64)

246

hikers

Babina Mine Entrance Gate – Source of Acid Mine Drainage loop from Łęknica

01:27

5.61km

30m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Park Krajobrazowy Łuk Mużakowa

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

28 m

Babina Mine Entrance Gate

Highlight • Monument

In 2012, the Polish initiators created a geotouristic path in this post-mining landscape, and in 2014 the lookout tower was built. In 2021 the trail network was expanded. The main paths are wide and paved. Therefore, comfortable walking and hiking is possible. There are numerous benches, many with tables, bike racks and litter bins, and a few shelters. Many interesting boards provide information about mining, history and nature in Polish and German. Nearby in Łeknica there are shops and restaurants. Another important note: If you are bringing a dog with you, please bring drinking water with you. The water in the many bodies of water is also undrinkable for dogs.
park-muskau.de/faltenbogen.html

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555 m

Lake Jedynka

Highlight • Lake

The new part of the geopath runs from the lookout tower on the right along the former route of the coal railway to the Łęknica briquette factory, thus closing the circular path around the “Afryka” mine and intersecting with the existing geopath again at its western end. This completes a circle of “8”. The other circle of “8” encloses the other lakes of the “Babina” mine as far as Łęknica and also meets the existing geopath there. Parallel to the geopark expansion, the parking lot in Nowe Czaple is being expanded with the Lipinki Forestry Office's own funds. “In the future, it will no longer be a problem for visitors to choose a parking space,” says Damian Sandak. “Cyclists in particular can then circle around the “8” and arrive back where their car is. Then they saw the whole Babina pit.” Overall, the three existing parking spaces remain: in Łęknica, in Nowe Czaple and at the observation tower. The two foresters are already looking forward to many more guests and visitors: “Everyone is welcome. It is beautiful here in every season. Entry to the geopath is free, as are the parking spaces, climbing the tower, visiting the lakes in the post-mining landscape - everything is free. There is no gastronomy at Babina, but there are plenty of beautiful viewpoints for the picnic you bring with you. What Damian Sandak and Grzegorz Rygiel want? That their request that all Geopath visitors respect nature and not pollute it is heard. Source: saechsische.de

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1.24 km

Forest Path in Park Krajobrazowy Łuk Mużakowa

Highlight • Forest

1.48 km

Source of Acid Mine Drainage

Highlight • Natural Monument

At the former site of the "Schuppe D" mining area, you can admire the "source of the acidic mining water"! Here water emerges from the subsoil in some places and because the loose rock masses in the subsoil contain a lot of iron, iron particles are also dissolved in the ground water and carried to the surface with the spring water. These settle at the edge of the spring and form so-called spring pots that look like small fountain rings. The areas all around are rust-red and orange-brown.

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1.88 km

Picnic Area at Bunte Seen, Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park

Highlight • Rest Area

2.29 km

Erosions in Park Krajobrazowy Łuk Mużakowa

Highlight • Natural Monument

2.36 km

Muskau Arch Geopark

Highlight • Natural Monument

The Geopark can be explored on foot or by bike. And it's really worth it. Bathing is prohibited because of the extremely low PH value. But every lake has its own beauty.

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3.40 km

Afryka Lake Observation Tower (Babina Mine), Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

There are 120 steps up the tower and you can see over Africa. The 190 meter long and 27 meter deep lake is so named because it has the exact shape of the continent when viewed from above. You can't swim in Africa, the water is too acidic for that. The power plants in Boxberg and Schwarze Pumpe provide orientation for a long-distance view. If the weather is really good, you can see the Landeskrone Görlitz and the Jizera Mountains. Boards and information can be found on the circular route around Africa. Breaks are possible at small huts and benches.

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5.61 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.31 km

199 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

4.99 km

320 m

141 m

116 m

Elevation

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Weather

Wednesday 7 October

22°C

8°C

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Comments

July 26, 2026,Eine Runde um "Afryka"

To conclude the weekend, we are going to the Muskauer Faltenbogen Geopark. From Leknica, we take a loop through the forest to the former Babina Mine. All the lakes along the way shine turquoise in the sun. The collapsed open-cast mines have also formed lakes, but unfortunately, the lack of water is extremely visible at all lakes today. At Lake …

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October 2, 2023,"Afrika" Ehemalige Grube in Polen

Beautiful cycle paths in Poland 😊. Visited a former coal mine today. If you want to follow the lap, it's best to do it the other way around. Makes more sense historically. Please do not let dogs into the water!

szlak15poludnika.pl/DE/704/Geotouristische_Pfad___Alte_Grube_Babina

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July 31, 2023,View over the lake Afryka – Grube Babina Runde von Nowe Czaple 💃🇵🇱

On the way back to my new home, I passed a world of colorful lakes, ideal for stretching my feet for a moment. I was thrilled, I've never seen anything like it 🤔😃👍🏼
Geopark Leknica impresses with its unspoilt nature and uniqueness. Today the Muskau Arch is an old mining landscape with a large number of small lakes and forests. …

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