THE DARK TUNNEL PRESERVES THE SPIRIT OF THE INDUSTRIAL PAST THAT SHAPED THE CITY The tunnel is actually a living monument to Koksar, the infamous factory that enveloped Bakar in black smoke and gave the city a bad reputation. The invisible giant, as it was called, was built in 1978 and was the fastest connection, transporting coal and coke from one side of Bakar Bay to the other using a conveyor belt. The concrete behemoth is 395 meters long and—believe it or not—could fit up to 30 buses inside! From the outside, only the entrances, protected by rusty grilles, are visible, but in the dark interior, the ghost of the industrial past that has shaped the entire city and its surroundings can still be felt. The infamous coking plant, with its tall red and white chimney, which allegedly poisoned the environment as far afield as Slovenia and beyond, was closed in the mid-1990s, and today the only reminder is this underwater giant, a giant caterpillar that will soon transform into a butterfly. The tunnel consists of nine concrete tubes that literally float in the middle of the sea. They are neither laid on the ground nor float on the surface. They are supported by several pillars, and the deepest point of the tunnel is at a depth of ten meters. Transporting coal and coke through the entire city was an unacceptable option. And even before the bridge was even built, consideration was given to building a bridge to transport the material. However, it was decided that it would obstruct the passage of ships and spoil the view of the beautiful bay, so the idea was quickly abandoned. The second option was to transport coal and coke through the entire city, which would not only cause unbearable noise but also destroy the historical beauty of Bakar and its surroundings. And so the choice fell on an underwater tunnel with a diameter of three and a half meters, which would connect the bulk terminal with the coking plant. Today, nothing remains of this heavy industry, and the sleeping concrete giant beneath the sea is the only reminder of the dark days that led to Bakar being described as a twilight zone and a city without prospects. Fortunately, there are now plans to convert the tunnel into an interpretation center where visitors can learn about Bakar's industrial past through photos and animations. We learned that after the redesign, it will be attractively lit, and a walk through the building will be accompanied by a special video projection.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!