Million Bridge. Rostokinsky Aqueduct (Million Bridge)

The amazing creations that people have created have decorated our planet for more than one millennium, and they have withstood the elements more than once. They inspire not only me, but also many artists and tourists. Aqueduct what is it? A structure that was created exclusively by people or did they use special equipment? This is exactly the topic we will discuss today.

Let us also pay attention to this structure. Of course, I am not an ancient Roman architect, or even an expert in the construction of such structures. However, I became interested in how, for example, such construction could be realized. Is this even feasible?

Aqueduct - what is it?

Perhaps, let's first pay attention to what is the starting point for any construction: the goal. Wikipedia tells us that ancient aqueducts were built to supply the city.

underground aqueduct - photo of a Roman underground aqueduct

This is how it was delivered (by gravity) to the city; an artificial channel was created for the flow of water.

To complete this task, builders had to have many knowledge and skills:

• good orientation in the area,
• know all groundwater,
• be able to measure not only the length, but also the elevation of relief points on the ground (find the correct solutions to high-altitude problems).

If you look at the existing buildings, you can come to the conclusion that the scientists and architects who lived in those days found correct solution assigned tasks, and their goal was achieved. To create the necessary slope for the water flow, it was necessary to find a place to lay tunnels, and where ravines did not form and the river bed changed, it was necessary to raise it above the terrain, building aqueducts for this purpose.

Do you think the Romans were the first to invent and build aqueducts? In fairness, it should be noted that such structures were erected even earlier by architects of the daytime east. But, if we take into account the scale of the projects, then no one could compare with the Romans.

An aqueduct is not the entire water supply system, it is only its above-ground part; the main architectural and construction secrets are hidden under water.

Ancient Rome and the famous Pont du Gard aqueduct

Let's take a closer look at the layout of the Roman aqueduct. The most seemingly impossible task was to carry water over the bed of the Gar River. For this purpose, an aqueduct was erected, the length of the lower tier of which was more than 140 meters. Have you ever seen the Pont du Gard? real life? If so, you certainly noticed that the soil at the site of its construction was rocky. Thanks to this, the structure was able to withstand heavy loads.

aqueduct photo

Today, before creating bridge projects, it is taken into account that in the future, due to floods, the usual water level may increase. Floods can happen once every hundred years, or even more often. Due to the fact that earlier there was more water in the rivers, the task of ensuring its passage was in first place. This is the reason why we can often see arches that cover almost all river floodplains.

Do you know why in ancient times arched structures were used for ceilings? I'm waiting for answers in the comments.

It seems to me that the materials from which the arches themselves were built in such structures work exclusively on compression. And the stone coped with such tasks perfectly. It was thanks to the arches that the aqueducts looked more elegant. In addition, the Pont du Gard aqueduct had many tiers, which not only makes its external characteristics more beautiful, but also adds stability to the entire structure.

Do you know what other buildings of the ancient Romans have no analogues in architecture? Of course, this is the Arc de Triomphe. The Romans erected arches to glorify and immortalize in stone the majestic victories of their rulers. Through their main passages, to the shouts of the jubilant people, the victors rode into the city in chariots, holding trophies in their hands, followed by captured prisoners.

Rostokinsky aqueduct

Do you think that in Moscow you can only go to Red Square or go for a walk at VDNKh? You are wrong! If you go to this city for the weekend, be sure to visit the Rostokinsky Aqueduct. The video of this Moscow attraction is below:

It is an architectural monument that preserves a two-hundred-year history; it is the only section of the Mytishchi water conduit that has been preserved today. Few people know that it was erected during the reign of Catherine II. Another name for the aqueduct is the Million Bridge? Why do you think? Everything ingenious is simple. More than a million rubles were spent on its construction from the state budget.

The aqueduct was named after the village of Rostokino of the same name, which translated means “bifurcated into several streams,” because all the villagers lived on two banks of the river.

Aqueducts of ancient Rome and the Aqueduct of Claudius

If the construction of aqueducts began in Rome, it is necessary to consider them in more detail. In ancient times, the urban population exceeded a million inhabitants, which is why an unresolved problem arose in supplying the city with water, which could be used not only for drinking and cooking, but also for other technical purposes. Here it is also necessary to pay attention to the desire of the city rulers to create a comfortable city for life; in those years, Roman thermal baths also became more popular. Naturally, it was possible to use water from a well, but due to the increase in consumption, it was necessary to figure out how to directly supply it from mountain sources.

The first Roman aqueduct was built already in the 4th century AD. and after a century more than 10 of them were built. After 2 centuries, the popular and world-famous Claudius aqueduct was built; at 27 meters high, it was significantly shorter than the old analogue of Marcius. Thus, it was possible to significantly reduce the distance (by 30 km) thanks to the creation of systems of tunnels and bridges.

Viaduct - what is it?

While preparing for this topic, I read a lot of literature, and found that in many sites these two words are used as synonyms, but this is rough lexical error, because this is identical to saying that an apple is a pear.

A viaduct is a bridge that connects two areas with identical landscape levels. Most often, such spans are laid through a river or other immediate depressions in a flat surface (for example, it could be a ravine or gorge).

An aqueduct is a water conduit (channel, pipe) for supplying water to a populated area. If we consider this term from the other side, it is part of a water conduit that has the shape of a bridge. The structures are similar in structure to viaducts, but they differ in that the former were used to supply water, and the others to create a road or railway tracks in their place.

Aqueduct bridge in Crimea

Don’t know where to go in the summer, to Sochi or Crimea? I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in Sevastopol there is a unique aqueduct, which is located directly on the Chernaya River near the village of Chernorechye. Have you ever been there? If not, be sure to add this place to your list.

The aqueduct was built in the nineteenth century; it became part of one of the few water pipelines. Its construction was initiated by Admiral M.P. , and engineer Joni Upton took up the design work. The aqueduct, which stretches for 12 meters, is made of limestone and external characteristics created in accordance with the style of ancient architectural structures, vaguely reminiscent of the drainage structures that were erected by the ancient Romans.

The aqueduct in Sevastopol is a picturesque structure that complements some spans with arched vaults of a semicircular shape, in the upper part there is a trench to supply water. The water pipeline performed its direct function for more than ten years, and then during the Crimean War it was half destroyed.

How do you feel about architectural structures? Are you surprised by their greatness, do you like to look at every detail, study history, search for the truth, or are you indifferent to this? I look forward to your comments.

Do I believe that aqueducts could be built by people without the use of additional technology? Probably yes, although reason proves that this is practically impossible. But there are moments when you still want to believe that the unreal may well become real. Sorry for the tautology, I think you understand what I wrote.

Thank you for your attention, I hope we have given a comprehensive answer to the question - what is an aqueduct! I invite everyone who was interested to subscribe to , many interesting things await us, we will discover the planet together!

Text— Agent Q.

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How to get to the Rostokinsky aqueduct? Exit the metro to the Cosmos Hotel and walk along Kosmonavtov Avenue until it intersects with Yaroslavskaya Street, then turn left and walk along Yaroslavskaya Street to the Aqueduct.
You can also get to the Rostokinsky aqueduct if you walk along Mira Avenue until it intersects with the Yauza River.
The Rostokinsky aqueduct is the oldest solid bridge in Moscow. It was built in 1804. People almost immediately dubbed the Rostokinsky Aqueduct the Million Bridge, since Catherine II spent more than 2 million rubles on its construction.

Currently, the Rostokinsky aqueduct is a recognized architectural monument. Millionny Bridge belongs to Sokolniki Park. On weekends and holidays it is open for walking.


Anyone can walk across the stone bridge for free, admiring the Yauza River and the magnificent nature of Moscow.


The Rostokinsky aqueduct is very popular with the capital's jumpers, who perform breathtaking stunts soaring over the Yauza River.
Because of the plague in 1771, there was an urgent need to provide Moscow with drinking water. Engineer Bauer presented the Mytishchi gravity water supply project to the court of Catherine II. The construction of the Rostokinsky aqueduct took more than 25 years. But after its opening, Moscow received drinking water from Mytishchi. The water covered more than 26 km from Mytishchi to Moscow. Difficulties and problems accompanied the construction of the Million Bridge.


The length of the Millionny Bridge or Rostokinsky Aqueduct is 356 meters. The height is 15 meters.


At the end of the 18th century, Moscow began to change its appearance. From a wooden city, the capital gradually became stone.
In the aquiferous Yauza valley, among its springs, there were 43 wide wells lined with bricks. From these wells, water flowed through pottery pipes to a brick gallery, through which it was sent to Moscow by gravity. Unfortunately, time has not preserved these old wells for us, but until recently the remains of the gallery could still be seen on the Yaroslavl highway, almost reaching the ring road - an unusual-looking bridge was the remains of a former aqueduct that carried the gallery across the Ichka River.


By appearance The Rostokinsky Millionth Bridge truly resembles Roman aqueducts.

Rostokinsky aqueduct on the map of Moscow.

How to get to the Rostokinsky aqueduct? Exit the metro to the Cosmos Hotel and walk along Kosmonavtov Avenue until it intersects with Yaroslavskaya Street, then turn left and walk along Yaroslavskaya Street to the Aqueduct. You can also get to the Rostokinsky aqueduct if you walk along Mira Avenue until it intersects with the Yauza River. The Rostokinsky aqueduct is the oldest solid bridge in Moscow. It was built in 1804. People almost immediately dubbed the Rostokinsky Aqueduct the Million Bridge, since Catherine II spent more than 2 million rubles on its construction. Currently, the Rostokinsky aqueduct is a recognized architectural monument. Millionny Bridge belongs to Sokolniki Park. On weekends and holidays it is open for walking. Anyone can walk across the stone bridge for free, admiring the Yauza River and the magnificent nature of Moscow. The Rostokinsky aqueduct is very popular with the capital's jumpers, who perform breathtaking stunts soaring over the Yauza River. Because of the plague in 1771, there was an urgent need to provide Moscow with drinking water. Engineer Bauer presented the Mytishchi gravity water supply project to the court of Catherine II. The construction of the Rostokinsky aqueduct took more than 25 years. But after its opening, Moscow received drinking water from Mytishchi. The water covered more than 26 km from Mytishchi to Moscow. Difficulties and problems accompanied the construction of the Million Bridge. The length of the Millionny Bridge or Rostokinsky Aqueduct is 356 meters. The height is 15 meters. At the end of the 18th century, Moscow began to change its appearance. From a wooden city, the capital gradually became stone. In the aquiferous Yauza valley, among its springs, there were 43 wide wells lined with bricks. From these wells, water flowed through pottery pipes to a brick gallery, through which it was sent to Moscow by gravity. Unfortunately, time has not preserved these old wells for us, but until recently the remains of the gallery could still be seen on the Yaroslavl highway, almost reaching the ring road - an unusual-looking bridge was the remains of a former aqueduct that carried the gallery across the Ichka River. In appearance, the Rostokinsky Millionth Bridge truly resembles Roman aqueducts. Rostokinsky aqueduct on the map of Moscow.

History of the Moscow water supply system

In the 18th century, Bolshiye Mytishchi was the village of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. There she rested on her way to a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This area was famous for good drinking water and a large number of wells. According to legend, one of the streams with spring water was called Gromov. It appeared after a lightning strike. From him the water supply system stretched to Moscow.

Having dined on a hearty meal,
The city of Moscow, poor in water,
I was tormented by a sultry thirst,
The gods took pity on him.
Above the valley where Mytishchi is,
The blue of the sky has darkened;
Suddenly a thundercloud strikes
It burst into the valley - and the spring boiled
It's rolling - drink, Moscow!

Construction of a water pipeline according to the project of F.V. Bauer and Colonel I.K. Gerarda began in 1780. The work was interrupted several times and ultimately lasted for 25 years. The water supply was installed only in 1804, and it cost the treasury a huge amount of money at that time - 1 million 648 thousand rubles. For this, one of his calling cards - the brick gallery of the Rostokinsky aqueduct - was called the “Millionth Bridge”. Along it, Mytishchi water crossed the Yauza and headed to Alekseevskoye.

The Rostokinsky aqueduct, 356 meters long with abutments up to 15 meters high, was then the largest stone bridge in Russia. And back in 1785, Catherine called it the best building in Moscow, saying that it looked as light as a feather.

After 1.5 centuries, the Mytishchi water supply system gave way to a new, more advanced water supply system, and in Soviet times a heating main ran through the aqueduct.

In 2008, the Rostokinsky aqueduct was restored and added with railings and a decorative roof. Now it is open to tourists on weekends and holidays.

The Romans built numerous aqueducts to transport water to cities and industrial sites. The city of Rome itself was supplied with water through 11 aqueducts, which were built over 500 years and had a total length of almost 350 kilometers. However, only 47 kilometers of them were above ground: most were underground (the Eifel Aqueduct in Germany is a very well-preserved example of this). The longest Roman aqueduct was built in the 2nd century AD to supply water to Carthage (now this place is located in modern Tunisia), its length was 141 kilometers.

During construction, advanced building materials were used, such as waterproof pozzolanic concrete.

Roman aqueducts were extremely complex structures, technologically they were not obsolete even a thousand years after the fall of the Roman Empire. They were built with remarkable precision: the Pont du Gard aqueduct in Provence had a slope of only 34 cm per kilometer (1:3000), descending only 17 meters vertically over its entire length of 50 kilometers.

Transporting water by gravity alone was very efficient: 20,000 cubic meters of water per day passed through the Pont du Gard. Sometimes, when crossing surface depressions with a difference of more than 50 meters, pressure water pipelines were created - siphons (although almost always the insides of bridges were used for these purposes). Modern hydraulic engineering uses similar techniques to allow sewers and water pipes to cross various depressions.

Further development of the aqueduct system

Much of the Roman engineering expertise was lost during the Dark Ages, and aqueduct construction virtually ceased in Europe until the 19th century. Water was often obtained by digging wells, although this could cause public health problems when the local water supply became polluted.

One notable exception was the New River, an artificial waterway in England opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water. Its length was 62 kilometers. The development of canals gave a new impetus to the construction of aqueducts. However, only in XIX century their construction resumed on a large scale to supply water to rapidly growing cities and industrial places in need of water. The development of new materials (such as concrete and cast iron) and new technologies (such as the steam engine) allowed for many significant improvements. For example, the use of cast iron made it possible to build large siphons loaded with greater pressure, and the creation of steam-powered pumps made it possible to significantly increase the speed and volume of water flow.

In the 19th century, England became a leading power in the construction of aqueducts, providing water to its largest cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. The largest aqueducts were built in the United States to supply water to the largest cities in that country. The Catskill Aqueduct carried water to New York over a distance of 120 miles, but this achievement was surpassed by aqueducts in the far west of the country; most notable was the Colorado River Aqueduct, which supplied water to Los Angeles and the surrounding area from a distance of 400 kilometers to the east. Although such aqueducts are undoubtedly great technical achievements, the enormous amount of water they carried led to serious environmental damage due to the depletion of the feeding rivers.

Aqueducts in Russia

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Synonyms

See what “Aqueduct” is in other dictionaries: Aqueduct - Aqueduct. (Rostokinsky in Moscow). AQUEDUCT (from the Latin aqua water and duco lead), a structure in the form of a bridge or overpass with a water conduit (pipe, channel, channel) supplying water to populated areas, irrigation and other systems from those located above... ... Illustrated

encyclopedic Dictionary - (Latin, from aquae ductus, aqua water, and duco lead). 1) water supply system, mainly ancient Roman. 2) in technology, a bridge that serves not for passage, but for the passage of water. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910.… …

Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language - (from Latin Aquae dactus) literally translated water supply system; In a closer sense, as is customary in Russian technology, the word maqueduct means a bridge that serves not for passage, but for the passage of water. Such bridges are constructed in the event... ...

Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron - (conducting water) water supply system (in the form of a canal, lead or clay pipe) for supplying populated areas with water (including fountains, ponds, baths, etc.). The most remarkable part of the water conduit (the aqueduct itself), which was laid over... ...

Historical Dictionary - (Latin aquaeductus, from aqua water and duco lead), a water conduit (canal, pipe) for supplying water to populated areas, irrigation and hydropower systems from their sources located above them. An aqueduct is also a part of a water pipeline in the form of... ...

Art encyclopedia aqueduct Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Gutter, supply channel, water supply Dictionary of Russian synonyms. aqueduct noun, number of synonyms: 1 water supply (11) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin... Synonym dictionary

Art encyclopedia- AQUEDUCT, a, m. Male genital organ (usually large in size). Come on quickly, the aqueduct is clogged! (in the toilet) ... Dictionary of Russian argot

Art encyclopedia- A structure in the form of a bridge or overpass with a conduit, tray, channel, pipe, for its transfer over an obstacle [ Terminological dictionary on construction in 12 languages ​​(VNIIIS Gosstroy USSR)] aqueduct Bridge for crossing a conduit over a depression... ... Technical Translator's Guide

- (from the Latin aqua water and duco lead), a structure in the form of a bridge or overpass with a conduit (pipe, tray, channel) supplying water to populated areas, irrigation and other systems from higher sources. Construction began on the 2nd... ... Modern encyclopedia

- (from Latin aqua water and duco lead) a structure in the form of a bridge (or overpass) with a water conduit (pipe, channel, channel); they are built at the intersection of a water pipeline with a ravine, gorge, river, road, etc... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Driving along Mira Avenue, it is quite difficult not to notice the amazing architectural monument of the past - the Rostokinsky Aqueduct. It is part of the gravity-flow Mytishchi water pipeline, created by the engineering thought of remarkable hydraulic engineers and builders of the past. The bridge was erected during the reign of Catherine II and was rightfully considered one of the largest stone bridges in Russia at that time.

The history of the Rostokinsky aqueduct

Since ancient times, the Moscow River was a waterway and provided city residents with water, but the emergence of the first manufacturing enterprises - manufactories - in the 18th century changed the situation. The river was polluted by industrial effluents, making the water unsuitable for drinking. The situation with clean water worsened significantly after the terrible plague epidemic that broke out in Moscow in 1771.

This forced the empress to issue a decree on the construction of a centralized water supply in the capital. Water work, as stated in the royal document, was entrusted to engineer F. Bauer. After months of hard work, they were presented with a project for the construction of the Mytishchi gravity water supply system. Work on its construction began in 1780 and dragged on for almost a quarter of a century, ending only in 1804. It is from this moment that the history of the emergence of a water supply system in Moscow dates back.

Of the five existing aqueducts that were part of the city’s water supply system, only one, Rostokinsky, has survived to this day. It is a 12-arched stone structure a little over 350 meters long, which rests on abutments 15 meters high. The bridge spans the river. Yauza, and once through a canal equipped in it, water flowed to Samotechnaya and Trubnaya squares, where the pool was located. The construction of the aqueduct cost a fabulous sum for those times: more than one and a half million rubles, so the bridge was aptly dubbed the Million Bridge.

For a century and a half, the Mytishchi water supply system reliably supplied Moscow residents with drinking water, eventually giving way to a more advanced water supply system.

Rostokinsky aqueduct today

During the Soviet period, a heating main was laid along the aqueduct, and emergency situations that occurred along it had a negative impact on the condition of the bridge; it gradually began to collapse. Cracks formed on the walls, and plants growing in them contributed to further damage to the surface of the structure. In the 90s, climbers and fans of graffiti drew their eyes on the aqueduct. Multi-colored art appeared on the white stone structures.

Finally, in the mid-2000s, the architectural monument underwent restoration; railings were installed on the bridge and an observation gallery was installed. The facility was opened in 2008 and can be visited on weekends or holidays. There is a trench in the gallery through which water flowed; it is located under a transparent slab and gives curious visitors an idea of ​​how the water supply system worked two centuries ago.

The Rostokinsky Aqueduct can be considered one of the most interesting historical sights of the capital. It was once considered the most grandiose bridge on the territory of Catherine’s Russia, about which the monarch said that in appearance it was light like a feather, but very durable.