Pool of the Arches, Underground water reservoir in Ramla, Israel.
The Pool of the Arches is an underground water reservoir supported by three rows of stone columns that hold curved ceiling arches. Square openings in the roof allowed water to be collected from above.
The structure was built in 789 CE during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. It was part of an aqueduct system that brought water from springs near Tel Gezer.
The Arabic inscription on the wall shows how the community valued this water source. You can see how crucial it was to store water in this dry region.
The water inside is usually clear and quite deep, so access is by rowboat. Plan time to explore the underground chamber and experience how sound travels in this enclosed space.
Despite many earthquakes that have struck Ramla over the centuries, this reservoir has kept its structure intact. The construction with its heavy columns proved remarkably resilient against seismic activity.
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