Graduation tower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

File:Bad Kissingen - Gradierwerk - 2020.jpg
Bad Kissingen, Germany
File:Tężnia - Ciechocinek.JPG
Ciechocinek, Poland
File:Gradierwerk Bad Salzuflen Detail.jpg
Close-up view of brushwood with mineral deposits

A graduation tower (occasionally referred to as a thorn house[1]) is a structure, used in the production of salt, that removes water from a saline solution by evaporation, increasing its concentration of mineral salts. The tower consists of a wooden wall-like frame stuffed with bundles of brushwood (typically blackthorn) that have to be changed every five to ten years, as they become encrusted with mineral deposits over time.[2] The salt water runs down the tower and partly evaporates. At the same time, some minerals from the solution are left behind on the brushwood twigs.

Graduation towers can be found in a number of spa towns, primarily in Germany but also Poland and Austria. The mineral-rich water droplets in the air are regarded[by whom?] as having beneficial health effects similar to that of breathing in sea air.[citation needed]

Large graduation tower complexes are located in Ciechocinek and Inowrocław, Poland.[2] Ciechocinek's entirely wooden construction was erected in the 19th century by Stanisław Staszic. The complex consists of three towers, with a total length of over 2 km. Many tourists visit it for health reasons.[citation needed]

[edit | edit source]

Partial list of towns and cities with graduation towers

[edit | edit source]
File:Ciechocinek teznia 6.jpg
View from the top of the tower at Ciechocinek, Poland
File:Bad Dürkheimer Gradierwerk 21-04-2005.jpg
Bad Dürkheim
File:Gradierwerk'RH.jpg
Bad Reichenhall

With years of initial construction where available. Does not include modern indoor facilities found in some spas.

France
Germany
Poland
Romania
United Kingdom

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Affelt, Waldemar: Wooden masterwork of saline in Ciechocinek, Poland Archived 2011-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, in: Santiago Huerta (ed.): Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History: Madrid, 20th–24th January 2003, Instituto Juan de Herrera, Madrid 2003, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons


Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 392: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).