Hezekiah's Tunnel

The tunnel is an underground waterway in Jerusalem, Israel. The passage links the Gihon Spring with the Pool of Siloam and winds for 533 meters through solid limestone rock.

In the 8th century before Christ, the structure was created to supply Jerusalem with water during the Assyrian siege. The work was carried out under King Hezekiah, who wanted to protect the city's water supply from enemy access.

The name recalls the Judean king who ordered the construction to supply the city during a siege. An inscription in ancient Hebrew script, found on the tunnel wall, shows how workers dug toward each other from both ends and met in the middle.

Visitors can wade through knee-high water in the narrow passage that flows constantly from the spring. The temperature inside remains cool, and lighting is limited, so a flashlight and waterproof footwear are recommended.

The structure has a gradient of only about 0.06 percent, which allows water to flow evenly over the entire length. The winding path shows that workers probably followed natural cracks in the rock to break through the stone more easily.