The engineering genius of antiquity who created the greatest waterfall (10 photos + 1 video)
In the heart of Umbria, eight kilometers from Terni, the stunning three-cascade Marmore Falls cascades down rocky cliffs. This is not just a natural wonder, but a grandiose engineering feat whose history began over two millennia ago. 
In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became a must-see for aristocrats on the Grand Tour of Europe in search of the origins of Western civilization. 
Howarth Flinck. Curius Dentatus Preferred Turnips to Gold. 1656
As recently as the 3rd century BC, there was no waterfall here. The Velino River slowly flowed through the Rieti Valley, forming vast marshy swamps. Stagnant lakes were considered a breeding ground for disease, and the Roman consul Manius Curius Dentatus made a fateful decision. In 271 BC, he ordered the digging of a canal to drain the swamps and direct the excess water toward the cliff at Marmore. Thus, falling into the Nera River, the first man-made waterfall was born. 
However, this decision sparked a centuries-long conflict. The Rieti Valley continued to suffer from flooding, and when the Velino River's water level rose, it also began to flood the Terni Valley, where the river was now diverted. The dispute between the two cities was so serious that in 54 BC, the Roman Senate attempted to resolve the issue, but no compromise was reached, and the problem remained unresolved for centuries. 
Pope Gregory XII
After the fall of Rome, the canal fell into disrepair, and the Rieti Valley began to become swampy again. The situation only changed in the 15th century, when Pope Gregory XII ordered the construction of a new canal. Further improvements were made by Pope Paul III, who ordered the installation of a regulating gate. The waterfall acquired its current appearance thanks to the architect Andrea Vici, who, at the direction of Pope Pius VI, carried out the final reconstruction in the late 18th century. 
Pope Pius VI
His engineering solutions largely put an end to centuries of flooding. Today, the waterfall's flow is controlled by a hydroelectric power station on the Velino River. To create a spectacular spectacle, the water is released according to a strict schedule: twice a day, from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. On holidays, additional descents are arranged for tourists. 
The total height of Marmore is 165 meters, making it the tallest man-made waterfall in the world. The upper cascade, the highest of the three, reaches 83 meters. 
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