Slag heaps and gasometers are striking landmarks in North Rhine-Westphalia and identity-forming evidence of their region's industrial past. The slag heaps characterise the landscape of the Ruhr region and beyond. They are also local recreation areas, cultural sites and vantage points, but also places where nature has returned. Hikers and cyclists can find world-class works of art and sculptures here. The former gas tanks, meanwhile, are used as multimedia exhibition spaces. In Oberhausen and Wuppertal, visitors can either admire expansive installations or immerse themselves completely in 360-degree shows. Events such as Extraschicht, the "Night of Industrial Culture", use both spoil tips and gasometers as impressive backdrops for light installations, concerts and performances.
