We understand by aqueduct those constructions whose main objective is to convey water from one point to another to allow people or communities to have access to it. The aqueduct is, as its name says, an exclusive conduit for water and not for other elements such as transport , people or objects . The most famous aqueducts are those that remain standing today in much of Europe and that have been built in the period of maximum power of the Roman Empire in Antiquity. These aqueducts, sometimes mistaken for bridges, are made entirely of stone and are masterpieces of engineering .
Aqueducts can have different shapes and formats depending on each situation: the distance to be covered, the type of terrain, etc. The most common forms of aqueducts are those that resemble bridges and that link quite important distances. These aqueducts generally have a great height and the water runs through them permanently. In some cases, such as those built by the Roman Empire in different parts of Europe, they are supported through semicircular arches that balance the force on both sides of their columns.
Other aqueducts developed by man may have more primitive forms such as simple grooves in the ground that create shortcuts or diversions from a natural water course such as a river to the space where water is needed. Other more modern forms of aqueducts can be built with more resistant, durable and modern materials such as metals. Finally, some aqueducts can also be piped or be wells that are created in depth to extract water from the interior of the Earth. All these types of constructions are part of engineering and many of them are brilliantly executed.