Kryvbas
Known as Ukraine’s iron heart, Kryvbas (the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Basin) is one of the world's largest mining centers, famous for its massive open-pit quarries, heavy industrial heritage, and rich French-driven 19th-century history.
About the region
Kryvbas, short for the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Basin, is a major economic and industrial region centered around the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Rich in vast deposits of high-grade iron ore discovered systematically in the late 19th century, the region rapidly transformed from quiet Cossack winter settlements into one of Europe's premier metallurgy hubs.
Much like the coal-rich Donbas, the initial industrial boom of Kryvbas was driven by foreign enterprise. French engineer Alexander Paul discovered the commercial potential of the ore in 1866, leading to the creation of the French-backed Société des Minerais de Fer de Krivoi Rog in 1881. French and French-Belgian capital funded the early railways, deep shaft mines, and processing infrastructure that powered the rapid rise of the region.
Today, Kryvbas features a unique industrial landscape dominated by massive terraced open-pit quarries, red-tinted soil, and industrial monuments. It remains crucial to global steel manufacturing while serving as a key symbol of Ukraine's heavy industrial heritage.
Region profile
- Key industries
- Mining · Metallurgy · Energy
- People
- 1
- Films
- 1
- Locations
- 0
Associated people
The film documenting this region
EuroKryvbas
The documentary film "EuroKryvbas" updates Soviet myths and reveals that more than a century ago, the Dnieper region was an integral part of the European economy.
View filmFilm record
- Year
- 2026
- Duration
- 71 min
- Genre
- Documentary
Documented locations
View all →Nothing recorded yet.