Skip to main content

Aqueduct

Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Transportation Era: 1750-1799 DateCreated: 1768-1790 Forth to Bowling on the Clyde, Scotland Glasgow State: Zip: Country: UK Website: http://www.asce.org/project/forth---clyde-canal/ Creator: Smeaton, John

It took 22 years to complete the 35-mile waterway, as funding problems caused the work to shut down from 1777 to 1785.  

The notion of creating a canal that crossed Scotland was conceived in the 17th century during the reign of Charles II, but would not be realized for nearly 100 years.  The Forth and Clyde Canal, known as The Great Canal in its early years, was the first major transportation project in Scotland and the world's first man-made, sea-to-sea ship canal.   

YearAdded:
2000
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/Michel Van den Berghe (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: The Forth and Clyde Canal, known as The Great Canal in its early years, was the first major transportation project in Scotland and the world's first man-made, sea-to-sea ship canal. Era_date_from: 1768
Ohio Canal System
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Transportation Era: 1800-1829 DateCreated: 1825 N/A State: OH Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Ohio-Canal-System/ Creator: Ohio, State of

Between 1825 and 1847 the State of Ohio constructed 1,000 miles of canals and feeder canals, 33,000 acres of reservoir surface area, 29 dams across streams, 294 lift locks, 44 aqueducts and many smaller structures at a cost of about 16 million dollars. The network of navigable canals provided a system of economical transportation where none had previously existed; the young state, with its isolated frontier lifestyle, was transformed almost overnight into a thriving segment of the nation's economy.

YearAdded:
1983
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia Image Caption: A part of the Ohio Canal System in 1902. Era_date_from: 1825
Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Bridges, Transportation, Water Supply & Control Era: 1840-1849 DateCreated: 1848 Delaware River Minisink Ford State: NY Zip: 18435 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Roebling-s-Delaware-Aqueduct/ Creator: Roebling, John

The Delaware Aqueduct provided an important transportation link between the Pennsylvania's coalmines and New York's booming industrial marketplace. It is the earliest surviving work of John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge  30 years later. The cable anchorage system first used on this project was also used on the Brooklyn Bridge. The aqueduct is patterned after Roebling's design of the Pennsylvania Canal over the Allegheny River, and is the oldest metal strand cable suspension bridge still standing in the U.S.

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Era_date_from: 1848
Acueducto de Segovia
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 0-1000 DateCreated: First century AD Calle Teodosio El Grande Segovia State: SEG Zip: 40001 Country: Spain Website: http://www.asce.org/project/acueduto-de-segovia/ Creator: Emperor Trajan

For 2,000 years, Aqueducto de Segovia has been conveying drinking water from the Frio River to Segovia, approximately 18 kilometers away. Built under the reign of Roman emperor Trajan, the aqueduct is one of the most intact and best-preserved Roman engineering masterpieces. Roman engineers built the channel of the aqueduct with an average one percent gradient over its whole length.

YearAdded:
1999
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Nigel's Europe (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: A view from below of the highly symmetrical Segovia Aqueduct Era_date_from: First century AD
Acueducto de Queretaro
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 1700-1749 DateCreated: 1726 - 1738 De Los Arcos 171 Santiago de Querétaro State: Querétaro Zip: 76020 Country: Mexico Website: http://www.asce.org/project/acueduto-de-queretaro/ Creator: de Urrutia y Arana, Juan Antonio

Queretaro's aqueduct, in Central Mexico, is one of the most eloquent symbols of colonial Mexico. As one of the early major hydraulic engineering projects in North America, it defines the city both nationally and internationally. The aqueduct, designed in 1723 by Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana, Marquis of Villa del Villar del Aquila, was inspired by the aqueducts of Segovia, Merida and Tarragona in Spain. It began supplying clean water to the city in this arid region of Mexico on October 17, 1738.

YearAdded:
1995
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/Ephobius (CC BY-SA 3.0) Image Caption: Acueducto de Queretaro Era_date_from: 1726
Acquedotto Traiano-Paolo
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 0-1000 DateCreated: 109-110 Rome State: RI Zip: Country: Italy Website: http://www.asce.org/project/acquedotto-traiano-paolo/ Creator: Emperor Trajan

The roman emperor Trajan ordered a new aqueduct be built to bring fresh water to Italy's Trastevere region and parts of Rome. The water is collected from five springs that feed the lake at Bracciano, and traverses over 25 miles into Rome. To maintain an even gradient, the aqueduct follows a meandering alignment through the countryside to avoid hills and major valleys. The water runs through an open-channel canal that is either arch-supported, at-grade, or underground.

YearAdded:
1992
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sovraintendenza ai Beni Culturali. Image Caption: The Acquedotto Traiano-Paolo still brings water to Rome. Era_date_from: 109
The Espada Aqueduct, running over the Piedras Creek
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 1700-1749 DateCreated: 1718-1744 San Antonio Missions National Historical Park San Antonio State: TX Zip: 78221 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/project/acequias-of-san-antonio/ Creator: Franciscan friars

This is one of the earliest uses of engineered water supply and irrigation systems in the United States. The first of eight original acequias was under construction in 1718 and two are still in operation. The remains of one are visible on the grounds of the Alamo. The Acequias of San Antonio are among the earliest engineered water supply and irrigation systems recorded in the United States. The Acequias served an integral role in the growth and stability of the San Antonio community for nearly 200 years.

YearAdded:
1968
Image Credit: Courtesy: Flickr/Amy the Nurse (CC BY-ND 2.0) Image Caption: The Espada Aqueduct, running over the Piedras Creek Era_date_from: 1718
Subscribe to Aqueduct
The Espada Aqueduct, running over the Piedras Creek

This is one of the earliest uses of engineered water supply and irrigation systems in the United States. The first of eight original acequias was under construction in 1718 and two are still in operation. The remains of one are visible on the grounds of the Alamo. The Acequias of San Antonio are…

Read More
Acquedotto Traiano-Paolo

The roman emperor Trajan ordered a new aqueduct be built to bring fresh water to Italy's Trastevere region and parts of Rome. The water is collected from five springs that feed the lake at Bracciano, and traverses over 25 miles into Rome. To maintain an even gradient, the aqueduct follows a…

Read More
Acueducto de Queretaro

Queretaro's aqueduct, in Central Mexico, is one of the most eloquent symbols of colonial Mexico. As one of the early major hydraulic engineering projects in North America, it defines the city both nationally and internationally. The aqueduct, designed in 1723 by Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana,…

Read More
Acueducto de Segovia

For 2,000 years, Aqueducto de Segovia has been conveying drinking water from the Frio River to Segovia, approximately 18 kilometers away. Built under the reign of Roman emperor Trajan, the aqueduct is one of the most intact and best-preserved Roman engineering masterpieces. Roman engineers built…

Read More
Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal

The Delaware Aqueduct provided an important transportation link between the Pennsylvania's coalmines and New York's booming industrial marketplace. It is the earliest surviving work of John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge  30 years later. The cable anchorage system first…

Read More
Ohio Canal System

Between 1825 and 1847 the State of Ohio constructed 1,000 miles of canals and feeder canals, 33,000 acres of reservoir surface area, 29 dams across streams, 294 lift locks, 44 aqueducts and many smaller structures at a cost of about 16 million dollars. The network of navigable canals provided a…

Read More
Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal

It took 22 years to complete the 35-mile waterway, as funding problems caused the work to shut down from 1777 to 1785.  

The notion of creating a canal that crossed Scotland was conceived in the 17th century during the reign of Charles II, but would not be realized for nearly 100…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.