It’s hard to comprise in some words and phrases the fascination of humans towards the elements of nature. Fire and water, essential for survival, majestic, destructive and beautiful in their wildness became not only usable everyday items, but true inspiration for man’s everlasting desire to create and capture beauty. Outdoor water fountains lost a long time ago their initial, functional purpose and became veritable architectural pieces of art and creativity, monuments and attractions that go beyond the water that runs them. Have you ever been in Las Vegas or seen a movie where the Bellagio Fountain Show represents one of the city’s highlights and most expected moments? How about the Fountain of Trevi, a symbol of Rome and one of the most beautiful fountains in the world? These art jewels make now distinct touristic attractions and if you look carefully, you will find that travel companies offer targeted circuits so you can visit the most spectacular fountains in a country or a group of countries. People are still fascinated by the tranquility, the sense of safety and beauty fountain water can provide us with, and there is no wonder that many land and home owners choose to build outdoor water fountains in their gardens or back yards. Some are very expensive, some can be done by yourself, some are simple and other are true post-modernist statements. But today we won’t travel to people’s homes, but the entire world in the search of ten fascinating outdoor water fountains.
1. The Crown Fountain
If you are used to the regular fountain any architect can build, with the regular Cupids or sirens, we suggest you go visit Chicago’s Millennium Park to see the Crown Fountain, the first of its kind in the world. An almost surreal edifice, the Crown Fountain officially opened in 2004 and was designed by conceptual artist Jaume Plensa. It draws its name from the Crown family and the monument combines outdoor water art with video technology. It still runs water, but the faces are changing…
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2. The Fountain of Hot Water
Set in Aix-en-Provence, France, this outdoor water fountain has something special: it runs the hot waters of Bagnier springs and is completely covered in moss. The locals named it Moussue and if you happen to visit that area, remember that Aix – en – Provence is called the City of a Thousand Fountains and there are little chances that you don’t fall in love with at least one of them, even if the majority is built within classic parameters.
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3. Children’s Fountain
Designer Tom Corbin must have loved children and their innocent play, as his creation is an animated fountain, in more ways than one. Looking at it, you get the clear feeling that those children have the time of their lives playing, no care in the world, while the water splashing around them offers the peace and serenity only a child’s play can have. But an animated fountain is not just one that gives you the impression the scene can become alive in a split second, but because it uses a system that runs water in a non – linear way, but in various behaviors that lead to a water animation, as the water packets collide, jump around, splash and hit the surface in almost a magical way. So if you ever visit Kansas City, don’t forget to pay a visit to the watery playground and even look for a rainbow.
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4. Villa d’Este
Italy has a lot to offer to its tourists, from history, to culture, to food and good entertainment. A land that once saw the might of emperors and visionary artists, there are few places in Italy where you can’t find a fountain keeping a secret, an old history record or the grace of its builders. Villa d’Este, with its gardens and musical fountain makes no exception. On the contrary, placed on the UNESCO World Heritage, the site hosts one of the most amazing musical fountains in the world. A trip to Italy should not skip this monumental experience, as the fountain acts like a natural org.
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5. The Hydraulophone Flute Fountain
Welcome to the Ontario Science Center, where, if you get lucky, you might witness a unique performance: somebody plays a water flute. The Hydraulophone fountain acts like a woodwind musical instrument that can be played. It uses water instead of air and the player can put his fingers on different fountain “mouths” in order to obtain various intonations or temperaments in a chosen key. You have to be experienced to do so, because it is quite different from playing the piano, but let’s face it: pianos and flutes, you’ve seen before. A flute fountain is an once in a life time experience.
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6. The Love Fountain
If you ever visit Philadelphia, don’t forget to take a walk in the Love Park, also officially known as JFK Plaza. The Love label comes from the Love sculpture designed by Robert Indiana. But what’s with the Love Fountain? It is a spray outdoor water fountain that sometimes honors its visitor with changing the water color, depending on special celebration moments of the year. If you find it in red, you should know this is a marketing event for Dexter. Yes, the famous TV series. If in pink, it’s usually cancer awareness, while blue water celebrates police fatalities.
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7. King Fahd Fountain
Ever saw a travel show, a documentary or some news which showed a tall water tower looking like a water eruption in the middle of the sea? Well, that’s Saudi Arabia’s and the world’s tallest fountain. It is located in the city of Jeddah and bares the name of King Fahd. It may not look very interesting from the distance, but if you remember that this is not just a hose provided with too much water pressure, but a heavy construction meant to pump 165 gallons of water per second up to 1023 feet, well… still not impressed?
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8. Fountain of Wealth
Singapore is definitely a place worth visiting, if not for blending in a completely different culture, at least for some of its fascinating architectonic sites. The Fountain of Wealth, recorded in 1998 in the Guinness Book as the largest fountain in the world, is an impressive structure that makes part of even a larger complex. Five tower blocks are placed so they can represent the open fingers of a left hand finding its way up from under the ground, with the fountain in the middle, as the palm of the hand. Why is it “of wealth?” Maybe because they let visitors walk around a smaller fountain at the base of the larger one (which they turn off for certain amounts of time during the day) and that walk is said to bring good fortune. At night, the immense edifice offers the visitor live music and laser shows.
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9. The Finger Fountain
For those who graduated the University of Southern California, the Finger Fountain represents no mystery and holds no secret. It is called this way because of its obvious shape and because it is directed somehow (obviously) towards the competition university – UCLA. Otherwise, despite its more or less discrete humor, the fountain makes a beautiful complex.
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10. The Mercury Fountain
If the Gin Fountain had diamonds, the mercury fountain has indeed mercury running instead of water. It’s both fascinating, bizarre and frightening, as once built as a tribute to the death of mercury miners in Almaden, now the fountain can be seen behind glass walls. Its creator, Alexander Calder wanted to make a commemorative statement in support of the victims of Almaden, so in 1937 Barcelona became the host of this beautiful but strange fountain.
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Do you know about other fascinating outdoor fountains? Have you seen them? Share your travel experience and memories with the world and let us know what else is out there!
Photo Credits: lifeinthefastlane.ca and tripadvisor.com