Červená Jáma (“Red Pit”) is a gigantic sinkhole at the site called Přední (“Fore”) Hengst. It originates on the place of old tin mines from the 16th–18th centuries. The main, elliptically shaped sinkhole with a NE-SW direction has a length of 230 metres, a width of around 30 metres and a depth of up to 20 metres or more. It connects to a number of other smaller depressions.
Hřebečná (originally Hengst, later Hengstererben) was established as a mining village located above a high grade tin deposit, which, according to some reports, had already been mined in the 14th century. The first confirmed reports date back to 1545, when surface mining remains were known to exist on the so-called Fore-Hengst (Červená jáma) and work began on Back-Hengst (the Mauritius mine).
At Fore-Hengst, the tin ores were extracted from 15 main ore veins in NE-SW and E-W directions, which converge in a fan shape in the area of “Red Pit”. The tin was extracted from depths of approximately 60 m, occasionally of 100 m or more. Apart from this main mine, tens of other smaller mines, such as Neues Jahr, Johannes, Dreikönig or Wildbahn, were operating here in the 16th century. The Georg and Schaf adits were used for mine drainage. The “Red Pit” surpasses in size the more famous Vlčí jámy on the Blatenský vrch Hill. It is apparently the largest one in Bohemia. Apart from tin, iron ore was also extracted nearby from the Bludná vein system. The mines Josef, Tiefer and Eisenstein operated in this location.
Although the majority of old mine workings are currently marked and secured, moving about in their vicinity can be dangerous and is discouraged.
Fig.:
1. Situation map
2. Ore veins at Fore-Hengst in 19th century
3. The sinkhole Wildbahn