The Romans built a vast network of aqueducts across Europe to transport water to cities, industrial works, and farms. There were 11 major aqueducts, stretching 260 miles, with shapes dictated by the lay of the land. The aqueducts included pipes, canals, and elevated structures to raise water pressure. They were lined with special concrete to prevent water leakage and required constant maintenance. Many fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire.
One of the most notable achievements of the Romans was the vast network of aqueducts they built across Europe for the purpose of transporting water between various locations. Roman aqueducts are today hailed as an ancient feat of engineering and one of the wonders of the ancient world. In parts of Europe, Roman aqueducts can still be seen today, and some of them are still in use, despite being over 2,000 years old.
There were 11 major Roman aqueducts, and numerous smaller aqueducts along with leats, small streams used to divert water to various locations. In all, the 11 major Roman aqueducts stretched some 260 miles (418 kilometers), with shapes dictated by the lay of the land. Roman aqueducts twisted and curved across the European landscape to transport water to Roman cities, industrial works and farms.
The Romans used a lot of water, and aqueducts were able to amply meet their needs. In addition to the vast gardens that needed water, the Romans also had rivers, pools and other water features around their houses, and the famous Roman baths also absorbed a lot of water. The innovation and creativity involved in meeting the Roman need for water is truly impressive when one thinks of the tools and knowledge available to the Romans.
The most famous features of Roman aqueducts are probably the massive elevated structures used to raise water pressure so that water could drain into cisterns in Roman cities. From the cisterns the water was distributed to numerous public fountains and to the homes of very wealthy Romans. However, aqueducts also included pipes, canals and pipes dug directly through hills and mountains.
The stone parts of Roman aqueducts were lined with a special type of concrete to prevent water leakage, and the construction of the aqueducts promoted a constant and reliable flow of water along their entire length. A sophisticated system of controls and sluice gates could be used to empty the sections for maintenance, and the water periodically stopped in settling tanks to remove impurities.
The construction of Roman aqueducts occurred mainly between 326 BC and AD 226. Aqueducts required a great deal of maintenance and constant monitoring to run smoothly, and as a result, many quickly fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire. In some areas this degradation was accelerated by enemies who destroyed sections of the aqueducts; in retrospect, this was a poor decision, as it limited expansion and settlement capabilities in parts of Europe.
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