São Miguel Aqueduct, Colonial aqueduct in São Miguel da Terra Firme, Brazil
The São Miguel Aqueduct is a stone water transport structure with four remaining arches that span across the BR-101 highway in Biguaçu, Santa Catarina. The preserved sections are built from carefully worked stone and sit near a waterfall from which the construction once carried water to the nearby village.
The aqueduct was built in the 19th century and served to supply water to the village as well as anchor vessels on the local river. Much of the structure was demolished in the 1960s to make room for the construction of the BR-101 federal highway.
The structure is part of a colonial village complex named after the Archangel Michael, and its architecture still reflects its past as an important trading settlement. The stone arches stand near a church, and together they form a testament to early European settlement in this region.
The structure is located right next to the BR-101 highway near the waterfall, making it easy to access but also meaning visitors should be aware of traffic. The best time to visit is in the early morning or late afternoon when sunlight better illuminates the stone structure and there is less noise.
The central and final sections of the structure were demolished in the 1960s to make room for the BR-101 federal highway, causing the original design of the aqueduct to be lost. What remains today are only the first four arches, appearing like a silent witness to an interrupted construction.
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