Jet d'Eau
The Jet d'Eau (French pronunciation: [ʒɛ do], Water-Jet) is a large fountain in Geneva, Switzerland, and is one of the city's most famous landmarks, being featured on the city's official tourism web site and on the official logo for Geneva's hosting of the 2008 UEFA Championships.[1] Situated at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhône, it is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over Geneva at an altitude of 10 km (33,000 ft).
Five hundred litres (110 gallons/132 gallons US) of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140 metres (459 feet) by two 500 kW pumps, operating at 2,400 V, consuming one megawatt of electricity.[2][3][4] The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). Diameter of the nozzle is exactly 4 inches (d=10,16cm). Maximum height of water jet is about 140 meters above water level. When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000 litres (1,542 gallons/1,849 gallons US) of water in the air. Unsuspecting visitors to the fountain—which can be reached via a stone jetty from the left bank of the lake—may be surprised to find themselves drenched after a slight change in wind direction.
Contents
History
The first Jet d'Eau was installed in 1886 at the Usine de la Coulouvrenière, a little further downstream from its present location.[4] It was used as a safety valve for a hydraulic power network and could reach a height of about 30 metres (98 feet). In 1891, its aesthetic value was recognised and it was moved to its present location to celebrate the Federal Gymnastics Festival and the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, on which occasion it was operated for the first time. Its maximum height was about 90 metres (295 feet). The present Jet d'Eau was installed in 1951 in a partially submerged pumping station to pump lake water instead of city water.[5]
Since 2003, the fountain has operated during the day all year round, except in case of frost and particularly strong wind.[4][6] It also operates in the evening between spring and autumn and is lit by a set of 12 lights totaling 108 kW.[5]
Images
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View from Cathedrale St. Pierre
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Jet d'Eau - Geneva - Switzerland - September 2005 - 01.JPG
Boat cruise on Lake Geneva
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Jet d'eau Aug 06.JPG
Jet d'Eau with a rainbow
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Photographie aérienne de Genève avril2005.jpg
Aerial view
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Jet d'Eau at night
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Geneva red je d'eau.jpg
Jet d'Eau illuminated
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JetdEau-avi.jpg
Jet d'Eau with blue light
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Jet d'Eau Geneva.jpg
Jet d'Eau before nightfall
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Jet d'Eau at Day
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Jet d'Eau.JPG
Jet d'Eau at night white illuminated
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The Geneva Water Fountain.JPG
Jet d'eau, aerial view
Notes
- ↑ Genève Tourisme - Geneva - Genf - Ginevra - Ginebra</refge.ch/_img/documents/pdf/corporate/patrimoine/SIG_Depliant_jet%20d%27eau.pdf SIG Brochure "Jet d'eau", p1 - "La Course des Jets d'eau" ("The water fountain competition")(French)]
- ↑ Genève Tourisme - Découvrir Genève - Jet d'eau
- ↑ Ville de Genève - Site officiel - Jet d'eau et Jardin anglais
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Geneva Jet d’Eau fountain Switzerland
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Patrimoine Genève - Le Jet d'eau de Genève
- ↑ Patrimoine Genève - Le Jet d'eau de Genève, "Horaires 2008" (2008 Schedule)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jet d'eau de Genève. |
- Official website
- Jet visible on Google Maps
- Jet d'Eau in action - Xvid codec required
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