Wetterschornstein Buchholz, Underground mine ventilation chimney in Witten, Germany.
The Wetterschornstein Buchholz is a masonry shaft that pumped air into the coal mines below. The structure has two openings and stands above an underground tunnel system connected to the mining operations.
The structure was built in 1856 and served the Vereinigte Geschwind coal mine until 1891, using steam engine exhaust. Most similar ventilation structures disappeared after mining ended in the region.
The structure stands along an important route for industrial heritage and shows how miners shaped their work underground. You can see here how closely architecture and coal mining were connected.
You reach the site via the A43 highway and can view it easily from the road. Information boards on site explain how the system worked, and there are benches for resting.
This is the last preserved structure of its kind in the entire Ruhr region, showing a forgotten mining technique. Visitors can see how cleverly engineers used steam pressure to force air into the deepest shafts.
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