What role does water and the aqueduct projects play in the lives of the people that live and rely on the water supply?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
An aqueduct is a watercourse constructed to carry water from a source to a distribution point far away. In modern engineering, the term aqueduct is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose.[1] The term aqueduct also often refers specifically to a bridge carrying an artificial watercourse.[1] Aqueducts were used in ancient Greece, ancient Egypt, and ancient Rome. In modern times, the largest aqueducts of all have been built in the United States to supply large cities. The simplest aqueducts are small ditches cut into the earth. Much larger channels may be used in modern aqueducts. Aqueducts sometimes run for some or all of their path through tunnels constructed underground. Modern aqueducts may also use pipelines. Historically, agricultural societies have constructed aqueducts to irrigate crops and supply large cities with drinking water.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 Ancient aqueducts
2.1 India
2.2 Oman
2.3 Persia
2.4 Petra, Jordan
2.5 Greece
2.6 Roman
2.7 South America
2.8 North America
2.9 Sri Lanka
3 Modern aqueducts
4 Design
4.1 Open channels
4.1.1 Artificial rills
4.2 Tunnels
4.3 Pipes
5 Uses
6 Notable aqueducts
6.1 Ancient Greek aqueducts
6.2 Roman aqueducts
6.3 Other aqueducts
7 Gallery
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
Etymology
The word is derived from the Latin aqua (water) and ductus (led, guided).
Ancient aqueducts
Further information: History of water supply and sanitation
Although particularly associated with the Romans, aqueducts were devised much earlier in Greece and the Near East and Indian subcontinent, where peoples such as the Egyptians and Harappans built sophisticated irrigation systems. Roman-style aqueducts were used as early as the 7th century BC, when the Assyrians built an 80 km long limestone aqueduct, which included a 10 m high section to cross a 300 m wide valley, to carry water to their capital city, Nineveh.[2]
India
Ancient Indian aqueduct in Hampi
The Indian subcontinent is believed to have some of the earliest aqueducts. Evidence can be found at the sites of present-day Hampi, Karnataka. The massive aqueducts near river Tungabhadra supplying irrigation water were once 15 miles (24 km) long.[3] The waterways supplied water to royal bath tubs.
Oman
Main article: Falaj
In Oman from the Iron Age, in Salut, Bat, and other sites, a system of underground aqueducts called falaj or qanāts were constructed, a series of well-like vertical shafts, connected by gently sloping horizontal tunnels.
There are three types of falaj:
Daudi (داوودية) with underground aqueducts
Ghaili (الغيلية ) requiring a dam to collect the water
Aini (العينية ) whose source is a water spring
These enabled large scale agriculture to flourish in a dry land environment.
Persia
Main article: Qanat
Scheme of a qanat, an underground form of aqueduct popular in ancient Persia
In Persia from early times[vague] a system of underground aqueducts called qanāts were constructed, a series of well-like vertical shafts, connected by gently sloping tunnels. This technique:
taps into subterranean water in a manner that delivers water to the surface without need for pumping. The water drains relying on gravity, with the destination lower than the source, which is typically an upland aquifer.
allows water to be transported long distances in hot dry climates without losing a large proportion of the source water to seepage and evaporation.
Petra, Jordan
Nabataean aqueduct in Petra, Jordan
Throughout Petra, Jordan, the Nabataean engineers took advantage of every natural spring and every winter downpour to channel water where it was needed. They constructed aqueducts and piping systems that allowed water to flow across mountains, through gorges and into the temples, homes, and gardens of Petra's citizens. Walking through the Siq, one can easily spot the remains of channels that directed water to the city center, as well as durable retention dams that kept powerful flood waters at bay.