Ethnographic element Cases de neu en el Parc Etnològic de Caimari (Mallorca)

Ethnographic element Cases de neu en el Parc Etnològic de Caimari

An example of ethnological construction to keep and store snow during the winter
Ethnographic element Cases de neu en el Parc Etnològic de Caimari

An example of ethnological construction to keep and store snow during the winter
Ethnographic element Cases de neu en el Parc Etnològic de Caimari

An example of ethnological construction to keep and store snow during the winter

Ethnographic element Cases de neu en el Parc Etnològic de Caimari

Traditional system for the storage of snow in the Tramuntana mountains so that ice would be available during the summer. The ‘cases de neu’ (snow tanks) are one of the traditional structures related to the trades that were performed in the forests and that have been reproduced in the Parc Etnològic de Caimari.

The structure consists of a large rectangular well. A low wall was built at ground level, and then a sloping tile roof was placed on top. There is an access door at the front, although snow was introduced through chutes or side windows sloping inwards to allow snow to fall in.

After a snow storm, the ‘nevaters’, responsible for the work, started storing the snow inside the well and pressing it. It was preserved thanks to the thermal inertia of the ground coupled with the low temperatures of the Tramuntana mountains, so ice was available for sale in summer. There were ‘nevaters’ on the island until well into the 20^th century.