Chapultepec aqueduct facts for kids

View of remaining arches of the Spanish built Chapultepec Aqueduct

The Chapultepec Aqueduct was a very important water system built to bring fresh, clean water to Tenochtitlan, which is now known as Mexico City. This water came all the way from the Chapultepec springs. The Aztecs built two aqueducts in the 1400s. The first one was destroyed by a big flood, and the second was later destroyed by the Spanish. After the Spanish conquered the Aztec Empire, they built a new aqueduct. You can still see parts of it today near Metro Sevilla.

Aztec Aqueducts: Bringing Water to Tenochtitlan

Even though Tenochtitlan had water nearby, it was salty and not good for drinking or cooking. So, in 1418, the Aztecs started building an aqueduct to bring fresh water from the Chapultepec springs.

The First Aztec Aqueduct

The first aqueduct was built using mud and plants. It rested on small, man-made islands that were about 3 to 4 meters apart. On top of these islands, they made hollowed-out channels lined with packed clay. They also used hollow logs to connect the channels between the islands. There were actually two channels side-by-side! This was smart because if one channel needed cleaning, the other could still bring water to the city. A wooden path ran alongside the aqueduct, making it easy to reach and also a way to travel. Once the water reached Tenochtitlan, it flowed into small pools and then through a network of canals to different parts of the city.

However, this first aqueduct wasn't strong enough to last forever. The clay wore away, and in 1449, a huge flood destroyed it. This left Tenochtitlan without fresh water for many weeks.

The Second Aztec Aqueduct

After the first aqueduct was destroyed, the king of Texcoco, Nezahualcoyotl, ordered a new one to be built. This time, they used stronger materials. The new aqueduct followed the same path but was made of stone and mortar. It also had two channels, just like the first one. This meant that if one channel needed repairs, the other could keep bringing water to the city without stopping. The pipes were held in place by wooden poles set into a base of sand, lime, and rock. Parts of this aqueduct were even made of hollowed logs, which allowed canoes to pass underneath!

The Colonial Aqueduct: Spanish Construction

Replica of the Salto del Agua Fountain.

When Hernán Cortés arrived in the Aztec Empire, he quickly understood how important the Chapultepec Aqueduct was. He even blocked the fresh water supply to weaken the city, and eventually, the aqueduct was destroyed. After the Spanish took over, Cortés wanted to claim the Chapultepec forest for himself. But King Charles V of Spain said no. He declared that the springs were needed to provide drinking water for the people and belonged to the city.

Construction of a new aqueduct began between 1711 and 1716, led by Viceroy Fernando de Alencastre. This new structure became known as the Aqueduct of Belen, named after a nearby convent. It followed the same route as the Aztec aqueducts but was built in the Roman style, with 904 arches. It was about 4 kilometers long!

For a long time, this aqueduct supplied most of Mexico City's fresh water. However, people worried about water getting dirty. So, in the 1800s, iron and lead pipes were installed to replace the open channels. This protected the water from the air and outside dirt.

What Remains Today

Today, a small part of the colonial aqueduct, about twenty-two arches long, still stands near Metro Sevilla on Chapultepec Avenue.

There are also two famous fountains connected to the aqueduct:

• The first fountain is located between Chapultepec Park and Metro Chapultepec. It was built to bring water to this part of the city and also served as a beautiful decoration. It's not in its original spot; it was moved and restored in 1921.
• The second fountain, called Salto del Agua, is at the intersection of Eje Central and Arcos de Belen Street. This fountain is a reproduction because the original one was too damaged. The original Salto del Agua fountain is now on display at the Museo Nacional del Virreinato in Tepotzotlán.

Historical images of the Aqueduct and Salto del Agua Fountain

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  Termination of the Aqueduct, painting of 1844 by Brantz Mayer.

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  Salto del Agua Fountain in a painting of 1855 by Casimiro Castro.

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  Salto de Agua Fountain (ending the Aqueduct), painting of 1870 by Albert S. Evans.

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  Salto del Agua Fountain in 1903. Library of Congress.

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  Salto del Agua Fountain in 1920 by Hugo Brehme.

See also

In Spanish: Acueducto de Chapultepec para niños