In the devastating floods in Spain, a small town was spared thanks to a dam built during ancient Roman times. Everyone is impressed by the resilience of this 2,000-year-old structure, and it’s surprising that it seems to be even more effective than modern constructions.
The severe flooding caused by heavy and prolonged rainfall in Eastern and Southern Spain in late October resulted in at least 217 fatalities, with hundreds more missing, according to ABC News. This is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern Spanish history.
Amid this disaster, as many cities were submerged in water and mud, the small town of Almonacid de la Cuba in Zaragoza (northeastern Spain) managed to avoid the devastation that many surrounding areas suffered. What helped this town escape the floods was a dam built approximately 2,000 years ago.
In some areas of Spain, the rainfall equivalent to an entire month fell in just one day. (Photo: Gregorio Marrero/ AP).
According to In Spain News, the dam, still referred to as “Cuba,” is the highest surviving Roman dam. It was constructed in the latter half of the first century AD, during the reign of Emperor Augustus, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Although it fell into disuse in the 3rd century, the dam was later repurposed to redirect water for nearby irrigation systems.
Now, 2,000 years after its construction, the dam continues to perform its essential function.
As reported by El Espanol, when the heavy rains fell, the dam reached its water capacity before redirecting the rushing waters to prevent them from flooding Almonacid de la Cuba, thereby averting damage and casualties.
Here’s a video of the ancient dam preventing floodwaters and “saving” a town in Spain:
(Source: Imorenogalo).
Many netizens have expressed their admiration for the durability of this ancient structure, feeling that it appears to be more effective than modern constructions. Spanish news outlets also noted that the “Cuba” dam has demonstrated the excellent engineering and calculation skills of ancient Romans, which may serve as inspiration and guidance for future constructions.
