Well-kept secrets
Public fountains are popular places, whether you live in a city or you’re just visiting. There’s plenty to like: the sound of rushing water, the public art (sometimes quite stunning), the nature element and the great social scene.
The world's most famous fountains don’t need an introduction (think Rome's stunning Trevi Fountain), but you can find equally attractive fountains that don't enjoy the same name (or visual) recognition. These lesser-known spots aren't the first sites that tourists rush to visit, but if you’re a fan of fountains, they are worth a detour. (Text: Josh Lew)
1. Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, Banpo Bridge, Seoul, South Korea
Photo: Syaheir Azizan/Shutterstock
This bridge-side fountain with a cartoonish name spans the Han River in the centre of Seoul, South Korea. On a practical level, Banpo is an equal-opportunity bridge: it has a lower deck where pedestrians and cyclists can cross without having to share the road with cars. Installed on the sides of the bridge, the fountain shoots nearly 190 tons of water each minute. The design includes nearly 10,000 nozzles that are surrounded by LED lights.
The water for Moonlight Rainbow comes directly from the river and is continuously recycled so that no outside water is needed. The fountain is turned on for 15-minute periods at noon and also several times each evening, with extra shows on weekend evenings starting about 5 p.m. The fountain is shut off completely from October through March.
2. Fountain of Wealth, Singapore
Photo: awee_19/flickr
Located in Suntec City, a popular mall in the city-state of Singapore, the Fountain of Wealth was named the largest fountain in the world in 1998. Every evening, the fountain is the centrepiece of a large laser light show. At certain times of day, the water is turned off and people can walk under the giant circular arch. Some think it is good luck to collect the coins that other visitors throw into the Fountain of Wealth when it is turned on.
Chinese feng shui experts were contracted during the construction and suggested that the water pour inward to symbolize the accumulation of wealth (thus the fountain’s name). The design also pays tribute to Singapore's ethnic diversity. The large circle was inspired by a Hindu mandala, a symbol for a universe in harmony and a nod to Singapore's large South Asian population.
Related Links: (1) 10 airports where you'll welcome a layover: Singapore Changi; (2) Destination of the week: Singapore
3. Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain, Xian, China
Photo: Shutterstock
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the oldest structures in the history-filled city of Xian, China. The pagoda itself is a major attraction, since it is more than 1,000 years old and contains relics and text from across ancient Asia. But many people also come to see the musical fountain, which has a number of jets that shoot up from the plaza area in front of the temple. Musical shows with choreographed water patterns take place throughout the day and lights are added to the spectacle after dark.
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4. Crown Fountain, Chicago, USA
Photo: Michael Dunn/flickr
One of the youngest fountains on our list, the Crown Fountain sits in Chicago's Millennium Park. It is characterized not by large jets of water, but by a pair of LED video screens that stand on the front of 50-foot-tall glass towers.
During the day, the screens show portraits of Chicagoans. The photos rotate frequently, with a single stream of water shooting out from the screen - seemingly flowing from the mouth of the person in the picture. This is a interactive fountain, with children (and adults) often standing near or under the water flow during the summertime.
Related Links: (1) Millennium Park in Chicago: A user’s guide; (2) 10 inspiring urban gardens: Chicago
5. St. Louis Citygarden Fountains, USA
Photo: stannate/flickr
St. Louis's state-of-the-art urban green space, Citygarden, sits in the city's reinvigorated downtown area. The fountains themselves are impressive: a spray plaza, with water jets coming from the ground for kids to run through, and a wall of limestone with a six-foot high waterfall that uses recycled water, supplemented by natural rainwater runoff.
The spray plaza's jets are illuminated at night. It is not so much the fountains as the entire atmosphere, including trees, sculptures and boulevard-like sidewalks, that make this St. Louis attraction such an attractive place to visit.
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6. Jet d'Eau, Geneva, Switzerland
Photo: qiv/flickr
This fountain is one of the most recognizable features of the Swiss city of Geneva. Placed at the confluence of the Rhone River and Lake Geneva, the jet shoots out of the water at more than 120 miles per hour with the liquid arc reaching more than 450 feet in height.
The Jet d'Eau has been a part of Geneva's skyline since the late 19th century, when it was first built using what was then state-of-the-art hydraulic technology (this first fountain was built at a different location from today's fountain). The jet of water is lit at night and is turned on throughout the year, shutting down only in the case of severe frost or high winds.
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7. Tap Fountain, Menorca, Spain
Photo: mira66/flickr
This fountain is one of several similar designs in Europe (the others are in Ypres, Belgium and Bahia de Cadiz, Spain). Located in the Santa Galdana Resort area on the Spanish island of Menorca, this installation takes advantage of its design to create an optical illusion. The supports are hidden under the water that is flowing out of the tap, making it look like the faucet is floating in mid-air without any support at all.
The Santa Galdana area is developed for tourism, but much of the natural beauty of Menorca remains just outside the built-up areas, making this not only the home of an unusual and creative fountain, but also a good destination for ecotourism.
8. Swarovski Fountain, Innsbruck, Austria
Photo: Christoph Woergoetter/Wikimedia Commons
Located in a theme park in the town of Wattens, near Innsbruck, Austria, this unusual fountain is part artwork and part advertisement for the Swarovski company. The company, which specializes in luxury glass, jewellery design, and crystal products, runs the Crystal World theme park. The fountain consists of a large head that has shiny eyes.
The head is covered with moss, making it appear as if it is emerging from the grassy hill behind the fountain. The face itself brings to mind the moai statues on Easter Island. The Swarovski head can seem imposing or impressive, depending on your viewpoint. Some people actually praise the fountain for incorporating the surrounding nature and greenery into the design.
Related Links: (1) 10 underground tours full of history and mystery: Eisriesenwelt, Austria; (2) 10 places to visit before they vanish
9. Archibald Fountain, Sydney, Australia
Photo: Crouchy69/flickr
This neoclassical fountain in Hyde Park in Sydney, Australia, is widely considered one of the finest fountains south of the equator. Sculptures of Greek and Roman deities and legends, such as Diana, Apollo and Theseus (founder of Athens and killer of the mythical Minotaur), give the installation a classical feel.
The fountain is a gathering place for locals, who lounge on the benches or listen to buskers, who come to the area in the evening. Water shoots from nozzles surrounding the statue, and in a light-hearted addition, from turtle sculptures that seem to be gazing up at the statues from the corners of the pool.
Related Links: (1) 10 bike-friendly cities around the globe; (2) 7 destinations for a wellness getaway
10. King Fahd's Fountain, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Photo: Shutterstock
This impressive fountain shoots a stream of water from the Red Sea to a point that is nearly 1,000 feet in the air. The saltwater jet is propelled upward at a speed that can reach more than 200 miles per hour. The water used for the fountain comes directly from the Red Sea, so no fresh water is wasted. Estimates suggest that if you measured the total amount of water that was in the air at any given moment, the weight would equal about 18 tons.
This fountain is visible from all over the city of Jeddah, which is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, so you will surely see it, even if you aren't exactly looking for it. Lights illuminate the jet of water at night.
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