Idrija Kamšt

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Idrijska Kamšt

Vodnikova ulica 20, SI-5280 Idrija

http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si

tajnistvo@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si

Phone386 (0) 5 372 6600

Founded byIdrija Municipal Museum

Water wheel 13.6 meter in diameter was used to pump pit water out of the shafts of the Idrija Mercury Mine. Kamšt derives from German language Wasserkunst and was erected in year 1790 in years of prosperity and development when Franci's Shaft was sinked. A state of the art technical achievement at the time when it was made, is believed to be today the largest preserved water wheel of this kind in Europe. Flood dams powering it, were made in the hills 3.5 km above the Kamšt. From where water was driven through channel called rake on the wheel. It made 4-5 turns in a minute and pumped 300 litres of pit water per minute from the depth of 283 metres below the surface. Rotation of the driving wheel was transmitted by 75m long system of handles, rods and poles. Same dams and rake that powered kamšt are powering nowadays the town of Idrija hydro power plant.

See also

• Idrija Municipal Museum
• Idrija Mine Museum
• Miner's House - Ethnological Collection, Idrija
• Flood Dams, Klavže, Idrija
• Franci's Shaft, Idrija

External Links

• about Idrija Kamšt on the Idrija Tourism website
• Idrija Kamšt on the Idrija Municipal Museum website