2,000 years later, it still works

THE flood caused by DANA continues to leave images that show the great impact of torrential rains and floods. One of these images showed the effectiveness of Roman dam of Almonacid de la Cuba (Zaragoza) nearby 2,000 years after its construction.

In this video you can see the water being stored up to the limit of the dam then fall in stagesthus avoiding an overflow and relieving the municipality of a flood as has happened in other municipalities in Spain. Finally, In Almonacid de la Cuba, no damage or injuries reported.

Beyond the fact that a disaster was avoided, the the effectiveness of the dam will still be useful two thousand years later. This dam was built in the second half of the 1st century AD c. in the time of Emperor Augustus. This is the the highest dam of all preserved Roman dams in the world and it is popularly known as Cuba.

Although the construction of the dam dates back to the 1st century, it suffered in later years several modifications until reaching its current state. Indeed, from the 3rd century, it was abandoned until the Muslim era, where it was used as a spillway to divert flows to the irrigated areas around Belchitea use that is still valid today.

The images which are having a great effect today did not take long to reach the networks, where dozens of users praised the architectural work of Roman civilization and how, after so many years, their constructions are still useful.

DANA in Spain

The DANA left during its passage through Spain more than 100 deaths and millions of euros in losses. The effects of areas affected by floods Valencian Community, Castile-La Mancha, Region of Murcia and Andalusia. However, it was in the Valencian Community that the situation caused the most damage, where 91 deaths were reported, 45 of which were in the municipality of Paiporta alone.

This is how the worst DANA in history in Spain. In some places, almost 500 liters per square meter fell, an amount that could accumulate in a rainy year. Although the red alert was activated, the storm exceeded all forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).

In other important episodes of DANA, such as In 2019, 425 million euros were reached in damage in the region, so with this DANA having greater effects, it is highly the figure is likely to far exceed this amount.