European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Preservation the massive Aqueduct that cuts through the heart of Segovia still carries water to its  the Aqueduct Segovia tries to protect a piece of its history from decays amps Jim de Helm by Michael m. Phillips the associated press the Aqueduct of Segovia Spain a spectacular testament to the skill and artistry of ancient engineers is in danger of decaying into yet another roman ruin. After surviving 19 centuries in which romans visigoths muslims and christians dominated the Golden Plains of Castile by turns the Granite Aqueduct is being destroyed by polluted air and other hazards of modern life. Local officials finally realizing Segovia s main tourist attraction is falling apart Are taking emergency Steps to keep it together while they work out a Long term solution. Quot what s alarming is the damage to the surfaces which Are crumbling and falling away Quot said Pedro Gomez Danero an architect with the Castile Leon regional government. Quot then there Are areas where there Are fissures that could bring some stones Down a Large  for Segovia a City of 54,000 people located 35 Miles Northwest of Madrid damage to the Aqueduct also Means harm to an Economy dependent on tourism. Segovia attracted More than 1 70,000 Spanish and foreign visitors last year. They came to Admire the fairytale Castle of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella on which the Disneyland Castle was modelled the 16th-Century gothic Cathedral and especially the Aqueduct that stretches 2,300 feet across the Center of the City. The Aqueduct was built in about the year 90 at the end of a canal that brought water from a Reservoir near revenge a Village nine Miles North of Segovia in the Guadarrama Foothills. Without using mortar the romans piled Large Granite stones into two tiers of Arches that Rise As High As 95 feet above the Street. A amps Jim 0�rheim a few of the 167 Arches that make up the Aqueduct. In 1985, the . Educational scientific and cultural organization recognized the Aqueduct s grandeur by declaring it part of the Quot heritage of  Quot this is the Best Aqueduct we know of in the roman world said Luciano Unicio the regional government s archaeologist. It also has become the most visible example of the difficulty of caring for the treasures of a country that according to the culture ministry has 7,729 designated historical monuments buildings and other Sites. Quot in a country like Spain you turn a Corner in any City and you see an important ii stg Ovla ill / j o t Villi Madrid i of Spain / a amps Monument Quot Unicio said. Quot As soon As you finish restoring one you have to Start  scientists from the German archaeological Institute sounded the alarm about the Aqueduct this summer when they found serious damage from pollution vibrations from vehicles that pass under the Arches cold Plant growth and acid from Bird droppings. Quot Quick action on the Aqueduct is necessary if we want to avoid damage that will be difficult to reverse in a future that unfortunately does not appear to be very far off Quot the scientists wrote. Damage is particularly severe in the four Center Arches. Local authorities have erected support scaffolding there and prohibit private vehicle traffic under the Aqueduct. Scientists and architects Are studying the damage to draw up a Long term Rescue plan and the Council of Europe has promised its help. No estimate has been made of How much the restoration will Cost or How Long it will take. As to the future a clerk at a souvenir stand near the Aqueduct said Quot i think if it suddenly fell either nobody would come any More or everyone would come to see  december 24, 1992 stripes Magazine 13