Google Maps labeled it Brine Graduation Tower. Intrigued, having no idea what that means, I headed towards Zalew Nowohucki Reservoir to learn first-hand.
The tower is an open-air L-shaped wooden structure composed of some type of bush. Water sprayed at the top trickles down through the wood until captured by the shallow pool at the bottom. Brine aggregates at places within the structure or at the bottom after the water has trickled to the bottom.
Brine graduation towers are apparently built of larch wood and blackthorn branches and are intended to create a microclimate similar to seaside air with the brine solution. People sat on benches alongside the structure, so I briefly followed suite but didn’t sense anything useful. The others were with friends and family and I just assumed it was cooler and out of the sun.
Poland has multiple brine structures. The Wieliczka Salt Mine has an enclosed graduation tower which, I assume being enclosed, allows the brine-infused air to envelop you; the smaller and open-air reservoir not so much.
After assuaging my interest, I walked around the reservoir and went on my merry way.
