Water level in the Danube River drops, revealing remains of a nearly 1,700-year-old Roman bridge

**Remains of a Roman bridge nearly 1,700 years old revealed as water levels in the Danube River recede**

A significant drop in the water level of the Danube River in Bulgaria has exposed the submerged foundations of the ancient Roman Bridge of Constantine, Reuters reported.

The event has given archaeologists a unique opportunity to study the remains of one of the Roman Empire's greatest engineering feats.

This summer, unprecedented heat waves in Europe have led to severe droughts in parts of the continent, which have caused major European rivers such as the Danube and Rhine to drop.

Pavel Popov, an expert at the Pleven Regional History Museum, said that the Danube usually keeps the remains of bridges underwater. The receding water level has allowed archaeologists to observe, photograph and study the structure in its natural environment.

The Bridge of Constantine was built by order of the Roman Emperor Constantine I and opened in 328 AD. It connected the ancient city of Ulpia Escus, in present-day Bulgaria, with Sucidava, on the other side of the Danube, in present-day Romania.

At over 2 kilometers long, this structure is considered one of the longest bridges in the ancient world. However, it did not last long - scientists believe that most of the bridge was destroyed around 367 AD.

Archaeologists from the Pleven Museum used drones to photograph and map the foundations exposed by water near the village of Gigen in northern Bulgaria. Experts are trying to determine the direction of the visible parts of the bridge and assess their current condition.

Earlier, it was reported that the remains of a German warship had surfaced in Serbia due to the lowering of the water level of the Danube River. Hungary plans to shut down its only nuclear power plant due to record low water levels in the river.