02/01/2025
Check out the Delikkemer Aqueduct near Patara in Fethiye, Türkiye. It's a real gem from ancient times, showing off some serious engineering skills. This aqueduct was built back when Emperor Claudius was around, between 41-54 CE, and was later spruced up by Emperor Vespasian between 69-79 CE. It pulled water from a spot almost 700 meters above sea level and delivered it all the way to the city, which is about 23 kilometers away.
Today, we can still see a 200-meter stretch of it, and the coolest part is that it stands about 10 meters tall at its highest point. Unlike most aqueducts that have a trough on top, this one uses a clever stone block pipe system. It’s designed as a reverse siphonic aqueduct, which means it can move water uphill and across valleys—pretty impressive, right?
Each stone block measures around 90 centimeters square and 50 centimeters thick, with a central hole about 30 centimeters in diameter. One side of each block has a little dip, while the other has a spout. When you connect them, the spout of one block fits right into the dip of the next, creating a continuous pipeline. Plus, they used mortar to seal these blocks together, which made for a sturdy water pipeline that could handle the pressure and keep the water flowing reliably into the city.