United Kingdom - Northumberland, England

Anna - United Kingdom - 02.07.2010

Hadrian's Wall. Nearly 2000 years ago, in 122 AD, the Emperor Hadrian embarked on a huge undertaking to mark the northernmost boundary of Roman Britain.(wall shown at Cuddy's Crag). 

Hadrian's Wall (Latin: Vallum Aelium, "Aelian Wall" – the Latin name is inferred from text on the Staffordshire Moorlands Patera) was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.

The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its role as a military fortification, it is thought that many of the gates through the wall would have served as customs posts to allow trade and levy taxation. 

Hadrian's Wall was 80 Roman miles (73 statute miles or 120 km) long. UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.