A true El Dorado: what Boryslav looked like during the oil boom years.

Looking at old photographs is always fascinating: they offer a glimpse into the past, evoke the atmosphere of long-gone years, and allow us to imagine how people lived back then. Previously, we shared the story of how the most famous market in Dnipro, "Ozerka," was built. Now, we invite you to see what the city of Boryslav looked like in the 1920s and 1930s.

These are not just snapshots of city life; they tell a complete story of industrial, cultural, and everyday development. You can observe oil rigs, storage tanks, workers, and local residents who lived at that time in a real oil Eldorado.

During the interwar period, Boryslav was one of the largest oil extraction centers in Europe. The "black gold" found in local fields attracted workers from neighboring villages and cities as well as major investors.

By that time, oil production had reached an industrial scale. While in the mid-19th century oil was extracted from shallow pits, by the 20th century, the process had been automated. New wells could yield up to 150 tons of oil per day, and by 1929, Boryslav was producing 511 thousand tons of oil annually. Thanks to the oil fields of Boryslav, Austria-Hungary became the third-largest oil producer in the world in the 1910s.

Boryslav played an important role in Poland, where it was located at the time, and its oil fields significantly contributed to the Polish budget. The city, often referred to as the oil capital, boasted a modern infrastructure for its time: cinemas operated, hotels catered to tourists, and bus services allowed easy access to neighboring cities for just one zloty.

The oil boom made Boryslav resemble American cities during the gold rush: luxurious villas were constructed, shops offered metropolitan goods, while simple mud houses could be seen on nearby streets. Boryslav became one of the first cities in Prykarpattia to have electricity, bringing it even closer to European living standards.

The oil of Boryslav attracted not only industrialists but also tourists. Excursions were organized to the oil mines, where visitors could witness the oil extraction process, enormous gas storage facilities, and other technological innovations of that era.

Previously, we discussed the Luna Park in Lviv. Unfortunately, this interesting place for recreation and entertainment has been destroyed.