Athena Review Image Archive ™
Pont du Gard: The Aqueduct
The Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, France (photo: Athena Review).
The
largest of several intact sections of the Roman aqueduct serving
Nemausus (Nīmes) may be seen at Pont du Gard, 18 km NE of Nīmes. The
famous three-tiered aqueduct-bridge spans 275 meters over the Gardon
valley. It was built of limestone blocks weighing up to six tons each,
fitted together without mortar and secured with iron clamps.
This
monumental Roman engineering feat, begun by Agrippa in about 19
BC, was completed over a century later during Trajan's reign (AD
98-117). The aqueduct brought water 50 km from the springs of Fontaine
d'Eure at Uzčs to Nīmes down a total gradiant of only 17 meters, to
supply some 400 liters per person per day to town residents.
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