Jet d'Eau

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The Jet d' eau [ ʒɛ do] (French for water jet ) is a fountain in Lake Geneva with an up to 140 meters high water jet. He is one of the landmarks of the city of Geneva.

Originally the fountain was only a few feet high and served as a pressure relief valve in the function of a moated castle built in 1885 for the pressurized water line Coulouvrenière the Geneva jewelers who thus operate their machines. By the fountain unwanted pressure peaks in work stoppages were collected and displayed the overpressure.

In 1891 the city decided to Geneva to put the fountain as a tourist landmark and the lake to increase the water pressure and to illuminate the fountain. 1951, the current facility was built, which has two pumps with a total capacity of 1000 kW. It pushes 500 liters of seawater per second at a speed of 200 km / hr.

The nozzle seen from above

Operating times

• Mid-May to mid-September, 9:30 bis 23:15 clock clock.
• Late March to mid-May and mid-September to October Monday to Friday 10:00 clock until sunset, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 bis 22:30 clock clock.
• In darkness, the fountain is illuminated.
• If the wind freshens and temperatures around the freezing point, the fountain is turned off.

Similar constructions

• In Aarau such a water fountain on the south bank of the Aare was created along the lines of the Geneva Jet d' eau in 2005 also.
• Similarly, the average of 60 meters high, privately financed Hamburg Alster fountain is inspired from the Jet d' eau.
• The tallest fountain is in Saudi Arabia with up to 312 meters since 1985 King Fahd's Fountain.