Which are the oldest aqueducts in the world?

Aqueducts are one of the engineering marvels of antiquity, symbols of advanced civilisations that managed to exploit nature to ensure the survival and well-being of their populations.

Designed to transport water from distant sources to populated centres, these structures allowed cities to grow, intensive agriculture to develop, and ancient cultures to flourish. But which are the world’s oldest aqueducts? Let’s discover the history and origins of these impressive works.

Aqua Appia – Rome

The Appius Claudius Aqueduct, the first example of Roman hydraulic engineering, is the forerunner of all Roman hydraulic engineering. Commissioned in 312 BC by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus, the aqueduct extended over 16 kilometres.

Built of square blocks of tuff assembled dry, the aqueduct’s route was largely underground, reaching Rome through the Porta Capena and then distributed throughout the city. Before this innovative construction, the Romans drew their water from the Tiber River, wells, and urban springs.

However, due to pollution problems and diseases spread by the river water, it became necessary to look for cleaner sources. This need for drinking water led to the construction of large aqueducts capable of transporting water over long distances to the city.

Acueducto de los Milagros – Mérida (Spain)

The Acueducto de los Milagros is a civil engineering work built to transport water from the Proserpina reservoir, located about five kilometres from the ancient city of Mérida. This aqueduct is part of the archaeological complex of Mérida, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. Its construction seems to date back to the time of the Julio-Claudian or the Flavian dynasties, although the exact date and phases of its construction remain uncertain.

Mérida already had three Roman aqueducts that supplied water to the population, but the Acueducto de los Milagros stands out for its resistance over time, so much so that it gave rise to the legend that it was a divine miracle that remained intact for centuries.

Aqua Alexandrina – Rome

The Alexandrine Aqueduct, or Aqua Alexandrina, the last one built during the Roman era, was constructed in 226 AD by order of the Emperor Alexander Severus. With a length of 22 kilometres, the aqueduct winds between the consular roads of Prenestina and Casilina, capturing the springs of Pantano Borghese, at the gates of Rome, known as Aqua Alexandrina.

The majestic arches of the aqueduct dominate the eastern quadrant of the city, crossing the Centocelle district and Viale Palmiro Togliatti, until becoming the protagonist of the Tor Tre Teste park.

Nazca Aqueducts (Peru)

The ancient hydraulic structures of the Nazca civilisation, known as the Cantalloc aqueducts, were built 1,500 years ago. In addition to their practical function, these channels, like the famous Nazca lines, are also believed to have had a religious significance, helping to make the land more suitable for agriculture.

The discovery of these aqueducts revealed the advanced technological expertise of the Nazca civilisation. The “puquios”, or spiral structures, were part of a complex hydraulic system that channelled water from underground aquifers.

These springs, often covered with wooden roofs and surrounded by stones, are usually found on mountain slopes. The water was then carried down from the puquios through deep canals to the agricultural lands of the plains.

The design of the puquios proved so effective that to this day, 30 of these hydraulic systems are used by local farmers to bring water to the arid lands of Peru.

Pont du Gard – Nîmes (France)

The Pont du Gard is an imposing Roman bridge located in the south of France. Spanning the River Gardon, this extraordinary bridge is part of a Roman aqueduct of the same name. Built around 17 BC under the supervision of Agrippa, during the reign of the Emperor Augustus, the bridge features three levels of arches, with a height of 49 metres and a length of 275 metres.

It was part of an aqueduct almost 50 kilometres long that brought water from the springs of Uzès to the city of Nîmes.

The strength and quality of the limestone deposits suggest that the aqueduct was in use for some 400-500 years. The design of the bridge is notable for the grandeur of its arches: the two lower series are imposing in height and width, while the upper series of smaller arches completes the harmonious structure. In 1985, the Pont du Gard was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its profile appears on the €5 banknote.

Hampi Aqueduct (India)

The Hampi Aqueduct is located in India, at the heart of the archaeological site of the same name in the city of Vijayanagar, which has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. This ancient aqueduct, which stands out among the many palaces, spectacular temples and complex infrastructures of the site, was used to supply water to the capital of Vijayanagar.

Archaeologists have discovered a reservoir that fed the aqueduct, showing how water was transported to the city. In contrast, underground aqueducts were commonly built to supply water to Hindu temples.

Valens Aqueduct – Istanbul (Turkey)

The Valens Aqueduct was the main water supply system of Constantinople, present-day Istanbul, during the Late Antique and Mediaeval periods. It was completed in 368 AD under the reign of the Emperor Valens, although its construction had already begun under his predecessors.

This work marked the end of a vast system of aqueducts and canals that stretched across Thrace, bringing water to the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Once in the city, the water was collected in underground cisterns. Today, 921 metres of this impressive aqueduct remain, about 50 metres less than its original length, crossing the present-day Atatürk Bulvari.

Tambomachay Aqueduct – Cuzco (Peru)

Another fascinating archaeological site known for its spectacular aqueducts is Tambomachay, in Peru, near Cuzco. This site is characterised by a network of canals and aqueducts built to collect and transport water from the surrounding waterfalls and hot springs.

According to archaeologists, Tambomachay was considered a true wellness centre by the Incas, as water played an important role in their culture.

Les Ferreres Aqueduct – Tarragona (Spain)

The Les Ferreres aqueduct, also known as the Pont del Diable, was built in the 1st century AD with a structure of dry stones forming a double row of arches. This impressive aqueduct was part of a much larger water system, of which only a significant part remains today.

At 217 metres high, the aqueduct served to transport water to the ancient city of Tarragona, located in northern Spain.

Caesarea Aqueduct (Israel)

The Caesarea Aqueduct in Israel was built by King Herod between 23 and 13 BC to bring running water to the city from springs located about 10 kilometres away.

In the 2nd century AD, the Romans extended this ancient aqueduct, which supplied water to the city for 1200 years, undergoing numerous repairs over the centuries.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers