The ruins of an ancient Roman bridge have emerged from the waters of the Tiber River in Rome, after a prolonged period of drought caused the water level to drop significantly.

It is about the so-called Nero's Bridge, the ruins of which have become visible again near St. Peter's Basilica, after weeks of little or no rain in the Italian capital. The bridge once connected the center of ancient Rome to the right bank of the Tiber and is historically associated with the emperor Nero. However, archaeologists estimate that its construction may be even earlier and that the bridge may have been erected during the time of Nero's predecessor and uncle, the emperor Caligula.

The flow of the Tiber has been halved.
The resurfacing of ancient ruins is a striking sight, but it is also an indicator of the serious water shortage situation Rome is facing, the Associated Press reports. The Tiber's flow has dropped below 80 cubic meters of water per second, about half the average for July, according to Giovanni Gigandi, coordinator of Rome's Civil Protection water management center.

"We are facing a major water crisis," he said, explaining that winter rainfall was relatively abundant but was followed by prolonged periods of drought.

The situation has caused the low level of the Tiber to reveal parts of historical structures that usually remain covered by water, bringing to light another piece of evidence of Rome's ancient history.

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