Chapter 1
Deep underground cities and salt palaces
Chapter 2
Masterpieces of water engineering
Chapter 3
Forgotten stone fortresses and lost walls
Chapter 4
Sunken cities and floating stone ruins
YOUR GOAL
Master of Secret wonders of the world
Ch 2 · Masterpieces of water engineering
schopenhauer The Qasabeh Qanat of Gonabad
Deep in desert stone / gravity guides the flow / still going strong today
schopenhauer Roman engineers built a massive double-arched stone aqueduct that stood for centuries without a single drop of mortar.
schopenhauer Ancient Egyptians built a sophisticated stone well on the Nile to predict droughts, floods, and tax rates.
BETA
schopenhauer Drag forgotten water monuments onto the map to discover the world's hidden aquatic history.
Fun Fact
Natural cooling: The water at the bottom of the Chand Baori stepwell remains about 5 to 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the surface air.
Glossary
aqueduct (noun)
An artificial channel or elevated conduit used to transport water from a distant source to a city. Completed in 52 AD, the Aqua Claudia spanned 45 miles to supply Rome with fresh water.
An artificial channel or elevated conduit used to transport water from a distant source to a city. Completed in 52 AD, the Aqua Claudia spanned 45 miles to supply Rome with fresh water.
Quiz
What is unique about the construction of the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain?
Quiz
What force powers the flow of water through the ancient Persian qanat tunnels?
Quiz
What did the measurements on the Rawdah Nilometer in Egypt directly help officials calculate?
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the vertical shafts along a Persian qanat tunnel?
Quiz
During which century was the current Rawdah Nilometer structure in Cairo constructed?
Quiz
In which modern country can you find the ancient qanat irrigation systems built over 3,000 years ago?