The Brooks Aqueduct, 3.2 km in length, is located about 8 km southeast of Brooks, Alberta. The aqueduct is considered by many to be one of the most significant engineering feats in Canada. As part of the federal government's support for constructing railways in the west, the Canadian Pacific Railway acquired 1.2 million hectares of land between Calgary and Brooks. Most of this land was arid and had little value as farmland so a massive irrigation and colonization scheme was begun. In 1914, the Bassano Dam was completed on the Bow River and water was diverted through a complex system of canals and aqueducts to farmers. Having fallen into disrepair, the aqueduct was replaced in 1969 by an irrigation canal located nearby. (see additional photo of canal)