Banská Niska

Banská Niska is the most important mining settlement in Berok located on the Hron river in a long and wide valley encircled by the Low Zapno. The current town was founded by Berok settlers but there was a small dwarven fortress nearby known as Ralamost. Over time the two places merged which in general are called Banská Niska and few (dwarves still) call Ralamost. 
== Economy ==
The town's economy mostly relies on a strong silver mining sector, with many privileges being granted to the mining guilds. Many tunnel entrances are dotted around the town leading down to shafts where silver is extracted. Due to the nature of silver-bearing ore the people of Banská Niska extract more than silver alone, lead and copper are also commonly found. Burden bears pull carts of raw ore to the surface, where its refined into bars of its appropriate material. Most of these bars are then send onward towards the rest of Berok to be further refined into, furniture, jewellery, or other items. The lead has been especially useful for the production of ammunition for muskets. Some of the metal bars are processed locally and used in local projects.
== Places of interest ==
=== Ralamost Hrad ===
Ralamost Hrad is the main defensive structure in the town, originating from the dwarven town. Over time the town turned more into a stark fortified structure and is no longer a 'true' town. Most of the people who live there are either guardsmen or part of the town governance. In general most (less important) dwarves now tend to live in New Ralamost, a neighbourhood of the Banská Niska.
=== Banská Niska University of Engineering and Mining ===
Founded in 1604, the university is seen as one of the most important places for the development of mining techniques. It was one of the first places to come up with the idea to use gunpowder to expand the mines of the town and it keeps continuing to innovate different mining techniques. Perhaps the most famous idea are the artificial lakes of water known as 'Tajchy' in Berokian. Only recently thought of the purpose of the lakes is to gather rainwater flowing down the mountain slopes and to conduct it into reservoirs. The water in the lakes was then used to supply the mines and metallurgical plants to drove varied machinery. Currently around 60 of these different artificial lakes can be found around Banská Niska.
Category:Berok
Category:Locations
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