The Canadian Oil Sand Mines Refused Us Access, So We Rented This Plane To See What They Were Doing

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-oil-sands-flyover-2012-5



When reaching out to Alberta oil sands companies before a trip to Canada last month I thought all of them mined oil the same way — they don't.
The open mining most people think of when they picture the oil sands is just one way of extracting crude from the ground, but it is without a doubt the most dramatic. And we had to see it.

Most of the Athabasca oil sands lie just north of Fort McMurray — the small city is bordered on the east by Rt 63 — the Clearwater River to the west and the south— and the Athabasca River to the north

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-oil-sands-flyover-2012-5#most-of-the-athabasca-oil-sands-lie-just-north-of-fort-mcmurray--the-small-city-is-bordered-on-the-east-by-rt-63--the-clearwater-river-to-the-west-and-the-south-and-the-athabasca-river-to-the-north-3#ixzz1vEiOz5Bd

After being refused a mine tour and any type of access to a mining site or equipment, Business Insider rented a plane that I used to see everything I could of the mines on my own.
Restricted to flying no lower than 1,000 feet above the ground, I spent nearly two hours leaning out the window of a small Cessna 172 with a long lens, snapping pictures and trying to keep warm.


And here is one very immense pile of coke waiting to be used or sold as fuel for smelting iron

*** more pictures at link


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-oil-sands-flyover-2012-5#ixzz1vEiDuntz

[GliderGuider]

1. Here's a music video on the topic, by Jennifer Berezan and Joanna Macy

[xchrom]

2. +1