Aqueducts were built to bring a constant flow of water from distant sources into cities and towns, supplying public baths, fountains and private households. Many aqueducts over land connect points of similar height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river valley or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. This list describes the old aqueducts that were built in the period since the 1st century (Roman times) till the 19th century.
1. Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain
The Aqueduct of Segovia is a Roman aqueduct and one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in Spain and is the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. This aqueduct was built in the first century AD.
The first section of the aqueduct contains 36 semi-circular arches, rebuilt in the 15th century to restore a portion destroyed by the Moors in 1072. The line of arches is organized in two levels, decorated simply, in which predominantly simple moulds hold the frame and provide support to the structure. [Link, Map]
2. Aqueduct of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico
The most prominent feature of Santiago de Querétaro is its enormous aqueduct, consisting of seventy five arches, each twenty meters wide with a total extension of 1,280 meters (0.8 mi) and an average height of twenty three meters (75 ft).
It was built by the Marquis Juan Antonio de la Urrutia y Arana between 1726 and 1738 at the request of the nuns of the Santa Clara Convent to bring water to the residents of the city from La Cañada. [Link, Map]
3. Pont du Gard, France
The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gardon River in the Gard département of southern France. Built in the 1st century AD, the Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved after the Aqueduct of Segovia. It was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985 because of its historical importance.
The bridge has three tiers of arches, standing 48.8 m (160 ft) high. The whole aqueduct descends in height by only 17 m (56 ft) over its entire length, while the bridge descends by a mere 2.5 cm (0.98 in) - a gradient of only 1 in 3,000 - which is indicative of the great precision that Roman engineers were able to achieve using only simple technology. [Link, Map]
4. Eagle Aqueduct, Spain
Eagle aqueduct is located in the municipality of Nerja, in southern Spain. This aqueduct was built between 1879-1880 to transport water between a spring on one side of the valley and a sugar mill on the other. The aqueduct still carries water, although the mill has closed.
High above the central point of the aqueduct there is a statue of an eagle, after whom the building was named. [Link, Map]
5. Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, Italy
The Aqueduct of Vanvitelli or Caroline Aqueduct is an aqueduct built to supply with water the Royal Palace of Caserta and the San Leucio complex (southern Italy). Commissioned by Charles of Bourbon and designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, its construction began in March 1753 and concluded with its opening on 7 May 1762.
Of particular architectural value is the perfectly preserved 529-metre-long (1,736 ft) section in tufa bridging the Valle di Maddaloni (commune) between Monte Logano (to the east) and Monte Garzano (to the west) - this section was made a World Heritage Site in 1997 and (modelled on ancient Roman aqueducts) is made of three rows of arches, 55.8 metres (183 ft) high at its highest point. [Link, Map]
6. Pegões Aqueduct, Portugal
Pegões Aqueduct is situated 2 km (1.2 mi) outside the town of Tomar, in central Portugal. The aqueduct was constructed between 1593 and 1613 by order of King Felipe I of Portugal. The monumental structure, which has 180 arches, stretches over 6 kilometres (3.7 mi).
The aqueduct was constructed to feed the Convent of Christ in Tomar with water. As the aqueduct nears the Convent of Christ it is more decorative with four foot high stone (1,2 m or 4 ft) carved columns every couple of meters. It is amazing that the water still flowing through the channel of this aqueduct, although the building is 400 years old. [Link, Map]
7. Roquefavour Aqueduct, France
The main attraction of Ventabren (commune in southern France) is certainly Roquefavour aqueduct - the biggest stone aqueduct of the world. Its form is inspired by the legendary Pont du Gard: it has three ranges of arches, the lowest range has 12 arches, the second - 15 and the highest range has 53 arches.
Aqueduc de Roquefavour is almost twice as high and long as its antique prototype, it was built in XIX century to bring the water of Durance to the city of Marseille and is still functioning. You will find the aqueduct five kilometres (3 mi) from the village in the middle of wild fields and villas. [Link, Map]
8. Águas Livres Aqueduct, Portugal
The Águas Livres Aqueduct is a historic aqueduct in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is one of the most remarkable examples of 18th-century Portuguese engineering. The main course of the aqueduct covers 18 km (11 mi), but the whole network of canals extends through nearly 58 km (36 mi).
Aqueduct bridge over the Alcantara Valley was completed in 1744. A total of 35 arches cross the valley, covering 941 m (3,100 ft). The tallest arches reach a height of 65 m (213 ft), and many are pointed, reminiscent of arches in Gothic style. It is considered a masterpiece of engineering in the Baroque period. [Link, Map]
9. Kavala Aqueduct, Greece
The Kavala aqueduct, popularly known as the Kamares, is a well-preserved aqueduct in the city of Kavala, Greece, and is one of the city's landmarks.
While the aqueduct is "probably of Roman origin", the present structure dates to the 16th century. A Byzantine barrier wall of the early 14th century, built as part of the fortifications on the Kavala acropolis, probably also functioned as an aqueduct. This would have made it one of the few examples of Byzantine aqueducts, since Byzantine cities more typically used wells and cisterns rather than either maintaining existing Roman aqueducts or building new ones. [Link, Map]
10. Valens Aqueduct, Turkey
The Valens Aqueduct is a Roman aqueduct which was the major water-providing system of the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey). Completed by Roman Emperor Valens in the late 4th century AD, it was restored by several Ottoman Sultans, and is one of the most important landmarks of the city.
The aqueduct stands in Istanbul, in the quarter of Fatih, and spans the valley between the hills occupied today by the Istanbul University and the Fatih Mosque. The surviving section is 921 meters (3,000 ft) long, about 50 meters (165 ft) less than the original length. The Atatürk Bulvarı boulevard passes under its arches. [Link, Map]
Top image: Valens Aqueduct
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