Aljaž Tower, Storm shelter tower at Mount Triglav, Slovenia
Aljaž Tower is a small cylindrical metal structure placed at the summit of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, at 9,396 feet (2,864 meters) above sea level. It functions both as a shelter for mountaineers and as a triangulation station.
In 1895, Jakob Aljaž, a Slovenian priest and mountaineer, bought the summit of Triglav for a token sum and immediately commissioned the construction of the tower. It has stood at the top ever since, and was restored during the 20th century to keep it close to its original form.
The tower is named after Jakob Aljaž, a priest and mountaineer who had it built to protect climbers at the top of Triglav. Inside, a summit register holds the signatures of those who have reached the peak, a tradition that has continued without interruption since the structure was first installed.
Reaching the tower requires hiking on high mountain trails that demand physical fitness and experience in alpine terrain. Weather at the summit can shift very quickly, so proper gear and careful planning are essential before setting out.
When the tower was brought up to the summit in 1895, workers carried every single piece by hand and assembled the whole structure in just five hours. The speed of the assembly at that altitude, without any mechanical equipment, still surprises those who learn about it.
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