Salt evaporating factory

Drohobych, Ukraine. July 2014. The Drohobych saltworks is the oldest salt evaporation factory in Europe, the only salt evaporating factory in Ukraine, as well as the oldest permanent standing enterprise in Ukraine. The first mention of the founding date of the saltworks is approximately 1250. It has run continuously since the 13th century at the same location near sources of the salt brine. Neither wars nor changes of countries have stopped the work of the factory. The salt technology is rather simple. Out of the ground sources is produced brine - the water with high salt content. This water is boiled over a fire in metal vats. The brine evaporates and salt crystals are deposited on the walls. The quality of the evaporated salt is better than that of the rock salt since the former has no impurities of gypsum. The salt is being carried for jointing (dehydration) in a centrifuge. Then the salt is poured in bags and dried. Later in the packing hall the salt is packed for sale. Nowadays, the factory is in decline. Salt processing at the Drohobych saltworks these days is in fact entirely handmade work. There are about twenty workers involved. The daily output is about 400 kg which is more than ten times less than the capacity of the field and the past output. In the destroyed room with sunken roof and collapsed vats even the conveyor belt does not work. It is hard to believe that something can work here. Nevertheless, the salt is being processed and delivered to stores. This is a very good salt - salt handmade.