Add here such a structure as a fountain.
From afar, it may seem as if some kind of frenzied geyser is pounding out of the ground with all its might. But the scene is not very suitable - Saudi Arabia. In addition, it takes place in one of the largest and most modern cities in the country. This giant jet of water is the work of human hands. It's hard to believe, but this fountain beats the records of many other attractions in the world.
It is difficult to say why the authorities of Jeddah - a large city in Saudi Arabia - decided to make the fountain the main attraction. But, one way or another, in 1980-1983 it was built not far from some administrative palace building.
Fountain- a device from which water beats up or sideways from a source (lat.- fons). The function of fountains is usually decorative. Fountains are classified according to various criteria: by location - on interior And street. By the presence of dynamics in the operation of fountain and lighting equipment - on color dynamic, static And "dancing". It can be considered separately classic or sculptural fountains.
The "pedigree" of fountains begins in ancient sacred groves with springs that were thought of as origin - the beginning of everything and played an important role in the rituals. The splendor of the fountains of the New Age sparkling with gold and in no way connected with the cult, of course, overshadows the relative simplicity of the sources in pagan sanctuaries or those sources that remain revered by representatives of all modern religions, however, the fact that the royal palace complex is unthinkable without a garden and occupying in the central place of the fountain testifies to the amazing mechanism of historical memory, in which the prototype of both the fountain and the garden has been preserved for many millennia.
That fountain spouted straight into the sky, but it wasn't anything special. They say that it was very reminiscent of the Swiss Jet d "Eau. And indeed: its flow rose into the air for an unfortunate 120 meters, which somehow did not impress the people very much and did not particularly correspond to the city architecture. Therefore, the authorities decided to install a new attraction Again, it was supposed to be a fountain, and a very large one: preferably larger than any other fountains and, perhaps, even famous buildings.
The Arabian company SETE Technical Services, which is engaged in the development of various engineering structures for the city, water supply, energy, and environmental projects, took up the job. The fountain they built really outdid a lot of things. Now the fountain works perfectly. However, already a couple of years after installation, experts discovered that its steel pipes were suffering from corrosion. At the end of 1987, it was quickly decided to install an anode protection to prevent the destruction of the metal. Now this destructive process seems to be stopped.
SETE Technical Services quickly got to work and launched a new fountain as early as 1985. But for some reason, this development did not shock the world, although the guys designed a colossus that throws water into the air to a dizzying height: 312 meters!
The total mass of water that constantly "hangs" over the fountain is approximately 18.8 tons. This engineering masterpiece was created during the reign of King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud), so it is often called the fountain of King Fahd. Sometimes simply - the fountain of Jeddah.
There is something to compare it with! Even the Eiffel Tower recedes into the background, because its height, except for the crowning antenna structure, barely reaches 301 meters. However, it is useless to compare fountains with antennas. But with other fountains - easily.
The diameter of the pipes of the system is different. Pipes supplying water have a cross section of 80 centimeters. And where water flies out into the atmosphere, their diameter is only 12.6 centimeters - this is done so that the "outlet" pressure is maximum.
The technical part of the Fahd Fountain consists of a pumping station and a power station that feeds it. At first, both of them were built on a barge 90 meters long, which was then partially flooded - simply so that all this ugly part of the structure was not conspicuous. It took seven thousand tons of cement to build just one pumping station five-story high. One of the parts over which the developers have been especially zealous is the nozzles from which water enters the air. They are designed to last for many more years.
Today, the most powerful pumping station, located at a depth of 20 meters, raises salty sea water into the sky. An artificial island was built for her, which took about 7,000 cubic meters of concrete. On five more artificial islands around, 500 powerful searchlights are installed to illuminate the jet at night. Water is thrown to a huge height with the help of two powerful pumps, ejecting 625 liters per second at a speed of 375 kilometers per hour. There is also a third, backup, pump - in case any of the two suddenly breaks down. Cooling of these pumps is carried out by fresh water through a separate circuit, which is pumped by 16 pumps.
Another amazing moment: the fountain of Jeddah works continuously. It can be turned off for two reasons. The first is a scheduled inspection of equipment, which is carried out about once a year. And the second is "an emergency situation". If suddenly a strong wind begins to blow from the south. In this case, the water can deviate and get into the gardens and lawns of that very vast administration building. Which is very bad: because of this, all vegetation will die, because the water is salty, because it is pumped out directly from the Red Sea, on the shore of which the city is located.
The authorities are not particularly fond of various tricks such as light, laser and other complex highlights of the fountain. It already looks fantastic day and night.
Currently, the state of the fountain and all its communications is constantly monitored using modern computer technology. Perhaps thanks to this, he will someday get into the Guinness Book of Records (Guinness World Records). In the meantime, for some reason, the official world record is held by a similar fountain in Arizona, which raises the water by only 171.2 meters and works for only 15 minutes a day.
Fountains have been throughout history an architectural element in the gardens, squares and centers of many cities. They decorate and emphasize the beauty of buildings, and in themselves are an attraction for tourists, because very beautiful photographs are obtained against their background. Let's take a look at the list of the 10 most expensive fountains in the world!
1. Buckingham fountain. $750,000
Buckingham Fountain is the main attraction located in Chicago, USA. It opened in 1927 and cost $750,000 to build. Moreover, it is one of the largest fountains in the world and inspired the creation of the Laton Fountain in Paris. Rococo style is used here (similar to a wedding cake), pink marble from Georgia was used for the construction. Buckingham Fountain is also famous for its large volume of water and is famous for its light shows. Remarkably, the four sculptures of seahorses symbolize the four states surrounding Lake Michigan: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
2. Light and music fountain Roshen. $1.5 million
The next fountain from the list of the 10 most expensive fountains is located in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, also considered the largest fountain in Europe. The Roshen Multimedia Fountain is an impressive $1.5 million project. It was opened in 2011 and light and music water shows with the help of special effects, lasers and 3D projectors create a chic spectacle on the water. Some repertoires include: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Nutcracker by P. Tchaikovsky and The Seasons: Summer by Antonio Vivaldi. To create fountains of this magnitude, certain difficult geographical conditions are needed, but the bend of the Bug River was well suited for such a project. In winter, this fountain goes completely under water.
3. Fountain of wealth. $6 million
The Fountain of Wealth besides being one of the most expensive fountains in the world, it is also one of the most popular structures of this type. It is located in the city of Singapore, which was recorded in 1998 in the Guinness Book of Records, the largest fountain in the world, after all. In addition, it is estimated that in 1995 the construction cost was $6 million. The fountain covers an area of about 1,700 square meters and is almost 14 meters high. But the most striking thing is that the water jet exceeds 30 meters in height! If you go to Singapore, you need to walk 3 times around the fountain, touching the water and Fortune will smile at you.
4. Geneva fountain. $800,000 per year
The Geneva Fountain is one of the tallest fountains in the world located in Geneva, Switzerland. Although the price of its construction is unknown, due to the opening in 1891, it is already known that its annual maintenance cost is $ 800,000. So this is the reason to be on the list of the 10 most expensive fountains in the world. The Geneva fountain is the symbol of the city. Five hundred liters of lake water per second fly to a height of 140 meters at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
5. Fountain of King Fadh. $ Price unknown
King Fahd Fountain is a fountain located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Like the Geneva Fountain, the cost of building this fountain, commissioned in 1985, is unknown. However, being the tallest fountain of this style in the world, its annual maintenance price is supposed to be one of the highest in the world. The jet of water from this fountain hits at a maximum height, according to various sources, either 260 meters or 312 meters above the Red Sea.
6. Fountain Archibald. $ Price unknown
The next representative of the list of the top 10 most expensive fountains is located in Sydney, and this is the Archibald Fountain. The construction cost of the structure, which was opened in 1932, is unknown, however, it is considered the best public fountain in Australia. It is assumed that its annual maintenance price gives it the right to be listed as one of the most expensive fountains in the world.
7. Bellagio Fountain. $40 million
The Bellagio Fountain is the best free show in Las Vegas, USA. Directed production of light and music on the water gives a stunning effect. This beauty cost $40 million to build, and since its opening in 1998, it has become a great wedding venue in Las Vegas, because the photos of it are beautiful in the background! In addition, the action takes place in front of the Bellagio Hotel and includes 30 songs. Some of them are: "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley, "My Heart Will Live" by Celine Dion and "The Sound of Silence" by Disturbed.
8. Dubai Fountain $218 million
The next amazing fountain on this list of the 10 most expensive fountains is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Fountain is one of the city's most important tourist attractions and cost $218 million to build! It is located on the artificial lake Burj Khalifa, in the center of Dubai. This fountain is the highest in the world, delights hundreds of visitors every day with a fascinating continuous dance, music and light show.
9. Large cascade fountain in Peterhof. $ Price unknown
A large cascading fountain is located at the foot of the central part of the Grand Palace of Peterhof, Russia. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and majestic royal palaces in the world, meeting with its luxury and grandeur, characteristic of the Russian empire. The most famous fountain near the palace is a large cascade, built with golden sculptures, through which water flows down. The Grand Cascade has three waterfall staircases, two grottoes, 75 fountains and is decorated with 255 bronze sculptures and 29 bas-reliefs depicting subjects from ancient mythology. The decor of the Grand Cascade used many sculptural forms - statues, bas-reliefs, corbels, mascarons, busts, vases, herms. The length of its facade is 42 meters. Although the cost of the creation is unknown, since the construction of the palace and its gardens ended in 1721, according to preliminary estimates, the luxury and tourist character that defines the fountain is one of the most expensive fountains in the world, and its annual maintenance is also expensive.
10. Rainbow Fountain Bridge. $20 billion
The final representative of this list of the 10 most expensive fountains in the world can proudly announce the wonderful bridge "Rainbow Fountain" or "Rainbow in the Moonlight". This magnificent fountain is located in Seoul and is the longest fountain in the world in the form of a bridge. It set a Guinness World Record with almost 10,000 LED lights! In addition, it is almost 1,140 m long, and the pumps pump almost 190 tons of water per minute straight from the river without stopping. The construction cost was approximately $20 million.
One of the most beautiful sights in any city is the impressive fountain - almost always a favorite place for citizens and tourists. Singing jets of water, light and impressive sculptures have made many fountains famous all over the world. Often the fountain is a kind of visiting card of the city. It is possible to classify fountains according to the occupied area, attendance, water consumption and other criteria. The following list of the largest fountains on the planet is compiled taking into account the height of the water jets:
1. Fountain of King Fahd in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) - 312 m
As the main attraction of the city of Jeddah, the fountain was opened in 1983, it became the highest in the world a little later, when its design was finalized, as a result of which the water jet began to reach 312 m in height instead of the original 120 m.
2. Fountain "Burj Khalifa" in Dubai (UAE) - 152 m
It occupies the second place of honor among the highest musical fountains in the world. This original fountain complex is located on an artificial lake and is illuminated by 25 color and 6600 spotlights. His repertoire consists of classical, Arabic and popular contemporary music.
Video fountain "Burj Khalifa" in Dubai:
3. Fountain "Jet d'Eau" in Geneva (Switzerland) - 140 m
The highest fountain in Europe. Located on Lake Geneva. The speed of the fountain jet reaches 200 km / h, which is 500 liters of water per second.
4. Singing fountain in Sharjah (UAE) - 100 m
The vibrant colors, beautiful music and impressive size of this Khalid Lagoon Fountain is a spectacular sight to behold. During the day, the fountain is hidden under the water column, and at night it sparkles with a storm of colors that are perfectly visible from the entire embankment.
5. Fountain-volcano in Abu Dhabi (UAE) - 92 m
The fountain is designed in the form of a volcano, and the water flowing from the crater at night creates a complete illusion of hot lava.
6. Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas (USA) - 80 m
Not only singing, but also dancing Bellagio fountain complex was opened in October 1998. It occupies a 10-acre artificial lake area and consists of over 1,000 water jets.
7. Singing fountains in Barcelona (Spain) - 54 m
This amazing complex was opened in 1929 and holds about 3 million liters of water. It strikes with the number of color combinations water-color - about 7 million.
Video singing fountains in Barcelona
8. Buckingham Fountain, Chicago (USA) - 40 m
The fountain, located on Lake Michigan, personifies the four states of the USA in its composition and uses 5.7 million liters of water to work.
9. Trevi Fountain in Rome (Italy) - 26 m
The Singing Fountain in Rome, with many magnificent sculptural groups towering over visitors, can claim not only one of the largest fountains, but also one of the most beautiful fountain compositions in the world. The Italian fountain - one of the oldest in the world - was put into operation in the 60s of the 18th century.
10. Musical fountain in Xi'an (China) - 25 m
The highest fountain in Asia covers an area of 17 hectares. Water jets to the sound of music rise to a height of up to 25 meters and are illuminated by more than 1,500 thousand colored spotlights.
Video of the largest musical fountain:
Jet d'Eau is recognized as the highest fountain in all of Europe (Jet d "Eau simply translates as "Jet of water"). This fountain is located on a lake with the beautiful name Leman. The fountain is one of the symbols of Geneva. It can be seen from any direction city.The height of the jet reaches 140 meters.Recently, the fountain has been continuously running all year round during the daytime, except for the season of severe frosts and heavy wind.The speed with which the jet of water breaks out to the sky is amazing.It is 200 km / h.
Singing fountains in Spain
This charming complex of a huge number of fountains was opened in Barcelona in 1929. The height of the longest jet of water is 54 meters. The total amount of water circulating constantly in the fountain is about 3 million liters. A distinctive feature of these fountains is the extensive color range of water illumination. They are called singing because the water seems to echo the melody playing during the operation of the fountains. These amazing fountains "give performances" for 20 minutes. The music that accompanies the work of this amazing landmark is a masterpiece of world classics. So, you can hear Bach or Beethoven. Currently, singing fountains are automated.
Trevi Fountain in Italy
In the capital of Italy, Rome, there is also a singing fountain, which was named Trevi. It is decorated with numerous sculptures. The height of this composition is 26 meters. The Italians rightfully consider their fountains to be the most beautiful in Europe. The Trevi Fountain is considered one of the oldest such complexes in the world, functioning to this day. He began his work in the middle of the XVIII century. The fountain was built in the Baroque style. It is located next to the Palazzo Poli, being part of the architectural ensemble of the palace building.
One of the most beautiful sights in any city is the impressive fountain - almost always a favorite place for citizens and tourists. Singing, lights and impressive sculptures all over the world. Often the fountain is a kind of visiting card of the city. It is possible to classify fountains according to the occupied area, attendance, water consumption and other criteria. The following list of the largest fountains on the planet is compiled taking into account the height of the water jets:
1 Fountain of King Fahd in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) - 312 m
As the main attraction of the city of Jeddah, the fountain was opened in 1983, it became the highest in the world a little later, when its design was finalized, as a result of which the water jet began to reach 312 m in height instead of the original 120 m.
2 Burj Khalifa fountain in Dubai (UAE) - 152 m
It occupies the second place of honor among the highest musical fountains in the world. This original fountain complex is located on an artificial lake and is illuminated by 25 color and 6600 spotlights. His repertoire consists of classical, Arabic and popular contemporary music.
Video fountain "Burj Khalifa" in Dubai:
3 Fountain "Jet d'Eau" in Geneva (Switzerland) - 140 m
The highest fountain in Europe. Situated on . The speed of the fountain jet reaches 200 km / h, which is 500 liters of water per second.
4 Singing fountain in Sharjah (UAE) - 100 m
The vibrant colors, beautiful music and impressive size of this Khalid Lagoon Fountain is a grandiose unforgettable sight. During the day, the fountain is hidden under the water column, and at night it sparkles with a storm of colors that are perfectly visible from the entire embankment.
The fountain is designed, and the water flowing from the crater at night creates a complete illusion of hot lava.
6 Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas (USA) - 80 m
Not only singing, but also dancing Bellagio fountain complex was opened in October 1998. It occupies a 10-acre artificial lake area and consists of over 1,000 water jets.
7 Singing fountains in Barcelona (Spain) - 54 m
This amazing complex was opened in 1929 and holds about 3 million liters of water. It strikes with the number of color combinations water-color - about 7 million.
Video singing fountains in Barcelona
8 Buckingham Fountain, Chicago (USA) - 40 m
The fountain, located on Lake Michigan, personifies the four states of the USA in its composition and uses 5.7 million liters of water to work.
9 Trevi Fountain in Rome (Italy) - 26 m
The Singing Fountain in Rome, with many magnificent sculptural groups towering over visitors, can claim not only one of the largest fountains, but also one of the most beautiful fountain compositions in the world. The Italian fountain - one of the oldest in the world - was put into operation in the 60s of the 18th century.
10 Musical Fountain in Xi'an (China) - 25 m
The highest fountain in Asia covers an area of 17 hectares. Water jets, to the sound of music, rise to a height of up to 25 meters and are illuminated by more than 1,500 thousand colored spotlights.
Video of the largest musical fountain:
