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Ancient aqueducts and water systems of the world

This collection shows the impressive water structures that people built in ancient times to transport water across long distances. Roman and Ottoman engineers constructed aqueducts that crossed rivers and valleys, standing up to 50 meters high. They were made of multiple layers of stone arches stacked elegantly on top of each other. These structures work on a simple principle: water flows downward from distant springs and rivers to cities, where it arrives ready for use. Throughout Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the Near East, you can still find remnants of these ancient systems today. The Pont du Gard in France and the aqueducts of Segovia in Spain showcase the craftsmanship of the time. In Turkey, you can see the Valens Aqueduct, which brought water to Istanbul. Italy has several examples, including the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli in Caserta and remains in Rome itself. These structures show how deeply ancient people understood how to use their environment. Each of these structures tells a story about how important water was to city life. They are not just technical achievements, but works you can still see and touch today. Many are preserved well enough that you can understand their original purpose.

Pont du Gard

Occitanie, France

Pont du Gard

This Roman aqueduct bridge is part of the ancient water systems of the world and crosses the Gardon river on three levels. The Pont du Gard reaches a height of 48 meters and was built with stone arches to transport water from distant springs into the city. The structure shows the engineering skill of Roman times.

Aqueduct of Segovia

Segovia, Spain

Aqueduct of Segovia

The Aqueduct of Segovia is a Roman water system that transported water across two levels of granite stonework to a distant city. The structure contains 167 arches and was built without mortar using stone blocks. This construction shows how Roman engineers used gravity to move water over valleys, supplying cities with fresh water from distant springs and rivers.

Valens Aqueduct

Istanbul, Turkey

Valens Aqueduct

The Valens Aqueduct is a 4th-century Roman structure that extends 921 meters and reaches a height of 29 meters. This aqueduct is part of the ancient water systems of the world and was built to transport water across valleys and plains using gravity. It supplied Istanbul with fresh water from distant sources and rivers.

Los Milagros Aqueduct

Mérida, Spain

Los Milagros Aqueduct

Los Milagros is a first-century Roman aqueduct that transported water over 830 meters through multiple rows of granite and brick arches. This structure stands as evidence of Roman engineering skill in moving water by gravity across valleys and plains to supply distant cities.

Aqueduct of Vanvitelli

Caserta, Italy

Aqueduct of Vanvitelli

The Aqueduct of Vanvitelli is an 18th century water system that transported water from distant sources to the royal residence. This structure shows how engineers moved water across long distances using gravity - a technique that the Romans and Ottomans also perfected. The system uses stone arches on multiple levels to cross valleys and bring water from Monte Taburno to the palace.

Barbegal Aqueduct and Mill

Arles, France

Barbegal Aqueduct and Mill

The Barbegal Aqueduct and Mill represents one of the ancient water systems of the world. This 2nd-century Roman industrial complex transported water across valleys using gravity. The aqueduct supplied the nearby city with fresh water from distant sources. The site contained 16 waterwheels arranged in two parallel rows for grain processing.

Água de Prata Aqueduct

Évora, Portugal

Água de Prata Aqueduct

The Água de Prata Aqueduct in Évora is an example of the water systems of ancient times. Completed in 1537, the aqueduct stretches 18 kilometers and supplied the city with water from granite springs. Like other ancient aqueducts, this structure used gravity to move water across valleys and plains. Stone arches on multiple levels allowed the structure to span great heights and carry water over long distances.

Kavala Aqueduct

Kavala, Greece

Kavala Aqueduct

The Kavala Aqueduct is a remarkable water system built in the 16th century that transported water across 60 arches. Rising to a maximum height of 25 meters, this structure exemplifies how ancient and Ottoman engineers designed aqueducts to carry water across valleys and plains using gravity alone. The aqueduct supplied the city with fresh water from distant springs and rivers, representing the ingenuity of water systems that once sustained civilizations.

Caesarea Aqueduct

Caesarea, Israel

Caesarea Aqueduct

The Caesarea Aqueduct is a Roman structure from the 1st century that carried water from springs at Mount Carmel to the coastal city. This aqueduct belongs to the ancient water systems of the world, which supplied cities with fresh water from distant sources. It demonstrates how Roman engineers used gravity to move water across long distances, through valleys and across plains.

Roquefavour Aqueduct

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Roquefavour Aqueduct

The Roquefavour Aqueduct is part of a collection of ancient water systems from around the world. This stone structure was completed in 1847 and crosses a valley at a height of 83 meters over a length of 400 meters. The structure transported water from distant sources to supply the city, following the same principles that Roman and Ottoman engineers used when building their aqueducts with gravity-fed water flowing through stone arches.

Tarragona Aqueduct

Catalonia, Spain

Tarragona Aqueduct

The Tarragona Aqueduct is a Roman water channel from the 2nd century that carried water across long distances to an ancient city. It shows how Roman engineers used stone arches and gravity to bring water from distant sources to urban centers. The structure spans 217 meters in length and rises 27 meters high, demonstrating the engineering skill of that era.

Aqueduct St-Clément

Occitanie, France

Aqueduct St-Clément

The Aqueduct St-Clément belongs to this collection of ancient water systems that transported water across valleys and plains. Built between 1753 and 1765, this structure carried water over 14 kilometers using gravity and stone arches. The Aqueduct St-Clément supplied fresh water to cities from distant springs and rivers.

Aqueduct in Skopje

Skopje, North Macedonia

Aqueduct in Skopje

This stone water conduit in Skopje was built with stone arches to transport water across valleys and plains using gravity. It is the only known aqueduct of its kind in North Macedonia and shows the engineering skill needed to bring fresh water to the city from distant springs and rivers. The date of construction and its builders are not documented in historical records.

Aqueduct in Moria

Lesbos, Greece

Aqueduct in Moria

This Roman aqueduct in Moria was part of the ancient water systems that transported fresh water from the mountains to the city below. Built with stone arches reaching about 26 meters high, it demonstrates how Roman engineers used gravity to move water across challenging terrain to supply distant communities.

Aqua Alexandrina

Rome, Italy

Aqua Alexandrina

The Aqua Alexandrina is an aqueduct built in 226 CE under Emperor Alexander Severus. It brought water from Pantano Borghese to Rome as part of the network of ancient structures that transported water across valleys and plains using gravity. Roman engineers used stacked stone arches to deliver water from distant springs and rivers to the city.

Aqua Claudia

Rome, Italy

Aqua Claudia

The Aqua Claudia is a Roman aqueduct built under Emperor Claudius that transported 184,000 cubic meters of water daily over 69 kilometers to Rome. This structure is part of the ancient water systems of the world and demonstrates how Roman engineers moved water from distant springs and rivers into cities across valleys and plains using gravity. The aqueduct consists of multiple levels of stone arches, reaching up to 50 meters tall to span the valleys.

Aqua Marcia

Rome, Italy

Aqua Marcia

The Aqua Marcia was one of ancient Rome's most important water systems. This aqueduct transported water from springs in the Sabine hills across a long distance to supply the city with fresh water. Roman engineers designed it to use gravity, allowing water to flow downward through valleys and across plains. Multiple levels of stone arches supported the structure as it crossed the landscape.

Aqueduct Park

Rome, Italy

Aqueduct Park

Aqueduct Park in Rome showcases the remains of seven Roman water systems and illustrates the engineering skill of ancient times. These aqueducts were essential for supplying the city with water from distant sources and rivers. They demonstrate how Roman engineers transported water across valleys and plains by using gravity alone. Stone arches rose up to 50 meters high, spanning valleys on multiple levels.

Jerwan Aqueduct

Mosul, Iraq

Jerwan Aqueduct

The Jerwan Aqueduct is an ancient stone structure built in 690 BCE that carried water from the mountains to the city of Nineveh. This aqueduct shows how early engineers moved water across great distances using gravity alone. The structure stands as evidence of the engineering skills of ancient civilizations in this region.

Old Plovdiv Aqueduct

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Old Plovdiv Aqueduct

The Old Plovdiv Aqueduct is a Roman structure from the second century that transported water across valleys and plains using gravity. The system features preserved stone arches and water channels that once supplied the city with fresh water from distant springs and rivers. This aqueduct demonstrates the engineering skill of Roman builders who designed these water systems to serve the population with reliable fresh water delivery.

Albolafia Mill

Cordoba, Spain

Albolafia Mill

The Albolafia Mill is a medieval water wheel from the 12th century that once stood on the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba. This structure was part of ancient water systems that transported water across valleys and plains using gravity and natural force. The mill used the river's flow to distribute water to the city and process grain. It demonstrates how engineers harnessed water power to supply communities with fresh water and handle essential daily tasks like grain milling.

Hama Water Wheels

Hama, Syria

Hama Water Wheels

The water wheels of Hama are large wooden structures about 20 meters in diameter. They were built to lift water from the Orontes River and irrigate gardens along its banks. These wheels are part of the ancient water systems that transported water through mechanical force to supply cities and agricultural areas.

Aqueduct of the Gier

Rhône department, France

Aqueduct of the Gier

The Aqueduct of the Gier is a Roman water system extending 86 kilometers, built in the first century CE. This structure belongs to the ancient aqueducts and water systems of the world that transported water across valleys and plains using gravity. The Aqueduct of the Gier supplied cities with fresh water from distant springs and rivers.

Eifel Aqueduct

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Eifel Aqueduct

The Eifel Aqueduct is a Roman water channel that carried water over 95 kilometers to the city of Cologne. This structure transported roughly 20,000 cubic meters of water each day through skillfully built channels that adapted to the landscape. The aqueduct shows how Roman engineers moved water from distant springs across long distances to supply a growing city with fresh water. The Eifel Aqueduct demonstrates Roman knowledge of water transport and how cities were kept supplied.

Roman Aqueduct in Side

Side, Turkey

Roman Aqueduct in Side

The Roman aqueduct in Side was a 2nd century water system that transported water more than 30 kilometers from the mountains to the coastal city. This structure belongs to the ancient water systems that used gravity to carry water across valleys and plains. Roman engineers built such works to supply cities with fresh water from distant springs and rivers.

Gadara Aqueduct

Umm Qais, Jordan

Gadara Aqueduct

The Gadara Aqueduct is an underground tunnel stretching 170 kilometers that used natural slope to deliver water to the ancient city. This structure shows how Roman engineers relied on the land itself to move water from distant springs and rivers into urban centers. The aqueduct is part of the system of ancient water conduits that crossed valleys and plains, supplying cities with fresh water.

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