Gradierwerk Bad Reichenhall, Evaporation tower in Bad Reichenhall, Germany.
The Gradierwerk Bad Reichenhall is a wooden tower in Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria, built with a lattice of blackthorn branches through which salt water slowly trickles down. As the water flows, it evaporates and releases salt minerals into the surrounding air.
The tower was built in 1911 and continues a tradition of salt production that made Bad Reichenhall one of Bavaria's most important salt centers for centuries. The technique of trickling brine through brushwood was once a key step in industrial salt making before more modern methods took over.
The tower is tied to the local salt culture and draws people seeking the healing effects of salt-rich air in this region. This place embodies a connection between craftsmanship and wellness that defines the town's character.
Paths around the tower are open to walkers at any time of day and require no special preparation. Spending around 30 minutes to an hour near the structure is generally enough to notice the salt-rich air it produces.
Although the tower stands deep in the Alps, the evaporating salt water creates a microclimate that feels similar to seaside air. The blackthorn branches filling the frame are replaced on a regular basis, as they gradually become encrusted with salt crystals and lose their effectiveness.
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