Kantara Bridge in Nahal Harod, Stone bridge in Beth Shean Valley, Israel.
Kantara Bridge is a three-arched stone structure crossing Nahal Harod stream in the Beth Shean Valley, linking different parts of the valley floor. The construction displays original stone arches alongside later concrete reinforcements that held the structure together.
The structure was built during the Mamluk period and later modified by Ottoman and British rulers who adapted it for their own infrastructure needs. These changes mark the valley's transition through different periods of control.
The structure reflects how different communities engineered water systems, blending construction methods that reveal the valley's shifting populations over centuries.
The bridge is accessible by road and located near hiking paths that cross the valley, making it easy to reach by car or on foot. Visitors can walk across the structure and explore the surrounding trails to see other historical sites in the area.
Rather than simply spanning the stream, this structure carried an aqueduct system that transported water from distant sources to farmland throughout the valley. This dual purpose reveals how engineers ingeniously combined transport and water management in a single construction.
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