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11 a   High water tunnel

Stud Name:            "High Water Gallery"

Struck:          1689

Leave:                   1766

Length:                         40 m water tunnel (total drive 243 m)

Altitude:                    1,114m

 

In 1689 the Hoher Wasserstollen was struck in order to be able to examine the part of the salt dome assumed to be above the Lipplesgraben tunnel.  This was the highest tunnel ever driven on the Ischler Salzberg.

The Hoher Wasserstollen was installed in the so-called "Fleck" at the foot of the Niederer Rosenkogel. However, since the same was built too high, the salt mountains, which do not reach far up the Lipplesgraben tunnel, were completely run over. It therefore did not live up to its purpose as a hope for salt and the tunnel soon fell into disrepair.

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High water tunnel, pit plan Michael Kefer, 1829, Upper Austrian Provincial Archive

The main shaft was initially in gravel rock, then in gypsum and limestone, its total length was 204 rods (243.2 m).

In 1757, 34 bars (40 m) of the main shaft were brought back into a navigable position and used to divert surface water. Since the daily water used was insignificant and did not increase even in heavy rain, the Hoher Wasserstollen was completely abandoned in 1766 and from that point on it was left to decay.

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High water tunnel, location in the slide area, 1927, Archiv Salinen Austria

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High water tunnel, landslide, around 1930, archive Salinen Austria

The exact location of the Hoher Wasserstollen can no longer be precisely determined today, since extensive subsidence and landslides occurred in the entire area as a result of factory collapses from 1924 onwards. By 1927, an area of more than 9,500 m² was in motion. The attachment point of the high water tunnel was also affected.

Sources used:

 

Michael Kefer "Description  and explanation of the main maps  kk Salzberg zu Ischel", 1820, transcription by Thomas Nussbaumer, as of September 13, 2016

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