The world's largest Singing Fountain in Dubai is considered one of the city's most popular free tourist attractions. The cascades of its sparkling jets are fed by the waters of the artificial lake Burj Khalifa, located in front of the skyscraper of the same name. In the neighborhood, Souq al-Bahar and Dubai Mall - huge shopping and entertainment centers - await visitors.
The basis of the monumental design of the “Dancing” fountain is a 275-meter central arc, to which is attached a smaller arc and 5 circles of different diameters. When the performance begins, powerful streams, forming picturesque figures, rise to a height of up to 150 meters in harmony with the music and lighting provided by more than 6,000 spot and 50 color spotlights.
Opening hours
Water shows take place daily and last about 5 minutes. In the evening, the fountain comes to life at 18:00 and delights the public every half hour until 22:00 (until 23:00 from Thursday to Saturday). Daytime performances - at 13:00 and 13:30 look less impressive during daylight hours.
The musical accompaniment of the Singing Fountain performances ranges from modern pop music to classical works. The repertoire includes “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie, “Our Father” by Christopher Teen, “The Magnificent Seven” by Elmer Bernstein, “It’s Time to Say Goodbye” performed by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman and others.
Best places to watch
There is no charge to watch the show and it can be viewed from various locations in downtown Dubai. Light rays are visible within a radius of 32 kilometers. The place from which the most breathtaking view of the fountain opens is the embankment along shopping center Dubai Mall. Before the start of each performance, thousands of spectators flock to the embankment in anticipation of the colorful action. Visitors wishing not to miss a single detail are advised to reserve their seats early to ensure a front row seat.
The pedestrian path around Souq al-Bahar is usually not so crowded; for a pleasant viewing experience in more comfortable conditions, it is better to go there. For spectators coming from the Dubai Mall, it is advisable to leave 15 minutes before the embankment and Souq Al-Bahar Bridge begin to fill with people.
The most far-sighted visitors, in pursuit of a fantastic view and convenience, book a table on the open terrace of one of the restaurants overlooking the lake and fountain.
Among the Dubai Mall restaurants with an excellent panorama are: TGI Fridays (American cuisine), Wafi Gourmet (Lebanese cuisine), Carluccio's (Italian cuisine), Joe's Café, Moe's Café (international) ), Madeleine (French cuisine) and Burj Al Hamam (Lebanese cuisine). It is important to note that none of the Dubai Mall restaurants serve alcohol.
Several restaurants in Souq Al Bahar also offer wonderful views of the Dubai Singing Fountain. These include: Dean & Deluca Café, Baker & Spice, Rivington Grill (British cuisine), Urbano (Italian cuisine, side view of the fountain), Margaux Restaurant (French cuisine), Mango Tree (Thai cuisine) and Bice Maree (Italian cuisine). Rivington Grill, Margot, Mango Three and Bice Mare serve alcohol.
"During water show the fountain may spray with water,” reads a notice posted at the lower front of the bridge connecting the shores of the lake in front of the Dubai Mall. Due to the increasing popularity of the fountain, the bridge was expanded with temporary platforms that were also accessible to people with disabilities. The platforms are in close proximity to water cannons, hence the warning.
Video of the Singing Fountain in Dubai
It is famous for many such structures that were built in estates and on the territory of palaces. But they began to decorate streets, parks, and boulevards with particular activity in the first half of the 20th century. Today there are 700 different water features in the capital. The fountain season in Moscow is from early spring to autumn.
The meaning of fountains
They have always played a big role in the lives of native Muscovites and guests of the capital. Some people remember their first date, which took place in a public garden near a fountain; others will never forget their wedding day near the magnificent cascade that can be seen on Poklonnaya Hill.
It is a pity that today we more often perceive this magnificence as a kind of device that tells us about the change of season. Turned off means winter is coming, turned on means summer is ahead. Preoccupied with our own problems, we run past these magnificent structures without appreciating their beauty. Let's stop running for a moment and look at some of the fountains that decorate our capital.
Fountain at the Bolshoi Theater
This grandiose monument is known not only to Muscovites, all residents of the former Soviet Union, but also to many citizens of foreign countries. It is the calling card of the capital.
It was built in 1835. The author of the project is I. Vitali, a famous sculptor at that time. His creation became the first public fountain in Moscow, although similar designs have been known since the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. It was he who organized water fun in Kolomenskoye using “foreign wonders.”
They planned to place a fountain on this site at the beginning of 1940. V.I. Dolganov worked on the creation of the project, but all the plans of the city planners were destroyed by the war. This issue was returned to only after the Great Victory. In 1987, the fountain and square near the Bolshoi Theater were dismantled. The fountain was restored only ten years later. The opening was timed to coincide with the 850th anniversary of our capital. But this was a different fountain, developed in the workshop of the Mosproekt-2 company.
The fountain was placed on an improvised podium in the center of the round square. The composition consists of three bowls containing two types of vases. Spectacular night lighting with colorful lanterns adds to the theatricality of this magnificent water feature.
Today, many fountains operate in the capital. Moscow is proud of these unique structures, but the Bolshoi Theater had and remains to this day a special attitude towards the construction. Perhaps because our dear WWII veterans chose this place for meetings on the day of the Great Victory.
"Rusalka" on Myasnitskaya
The photos you see in our article are all very different. They were built in different time, were designed by different architects, but they are all infinitely dear to the residents of the capital. Like, for example, the “Mermaid” fountain, located on Myasnitskaya Street. It is located in a small but cozy park near the Stroganov Art School.
Today there is no reliable information about who is the author and performer of the water maiden. This concrete sculpture in the center of the bowl is the body of a beautiful girl. It is beautifully curved. and the maiden's head are painted pink, blue and brown.
"The Rape of Europa"
The capital has very unusual and original fountains. Moscow received a composition called “The Rape of Europe” as a gift from the Belgian capital, Brussels. It was installed in 2002 at Kievsky railway station. Its author is avant-garde sculptor Olivier Streble.
The composition of the fountain is based on the figure of a bull in the interweaving of 18-meter pipes. The figure of the kidnapped Europa among the water jets is not easy to see, although experts say that the image of the girl is still present in the composition. It is symbolized by artfully curved pipes, visualizing charm and femininity.
The structure, made of stainless steel pipes, is located in the granite bowl of the dynamic light fountain. Its diameter is 26 meters.
Singing fountains in Moscow
Probably, even native Muscovites have not seen all the water facilities that exist in their city. As we have already said, you can see a variety of fountains in the capital. Moscow treats old structures with care, many of which today are historical monuments.
However, the biggest interest is in water structures with special effects. Every evening they bring together not only tourists from all over the world, but also local residents. The largest such fountain is located in the Tsaritsyno nature reserve, where Empress Catherine II loved to relax.
It was opened in 2007. The fountain is located in a natural reservoir. Its diameter is 55 meters, depth is 1.5 meters. The design consists of 900 jets. The computer controls the direction of flowing water, changing colors, music, according to a pre-developed program. Two works by P. I. Tchaikovsky (“March” and “Waltz of the Flowers”) and two melodies by Paul Mauriat are used here. This beautiful fountain works only in the spring-summer season. During the rest of the year it is covered with a protective awning.
There is also a singing fountain in Gorky Park. To see its color effects, you need to come to the park at 22.30. The performance lasts 30 minutes.
In 2005, on the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War, the Music of Glory fountain was installed on Glory Square near the Kuzminki metro station. This building was not created for entertainment, but as a monument.
Since their introduction they have become very popular. Almost every self-respecting city has its own dancing fountains. They look very impressive and attract the attention of passersby. With their help, you can easily decorate an inconspicuous square or add some zest to a city park. In this article you will see dancing fountains from all over the world.
Videos of dancing fountains from around the world
Word " " comes from the Latin "fontis" ("fontis"), which means source. Since ancient times, people have tried to recreate natural sources and use them for their own purposes. Even at the dawn of centuries, architects tried to decorate the springs: their base was framed with decorative stones or tiles. Fountains V Ancient Greece were combined with a water clock and even with a puppet theater, where the figures moved under the pressure of jets of water. Historians also talk about the existence of fountains with mechanical birds that sang and fell silent when an owl appeared.
Dancing fountain show in Barcelona
The construction of fountains developed in Ancient Rome, where architects were the first to learn how to make lead pipes through which water was supplied under pressure, which led to the appearance of a fountain. In the 1st century AD Due to the special predilection of the ancient Romans for fountains, 1,300 liters of water per day were consumed per inhabitant alone. Later, fountains began to serve not just as a source of drinking water, but as a decorative element. With the beginning of the Renaissance, they became an integral part architectural ensemble, they decorate the palaces of aristocrats.
The greatest flowering of fountain art was achieved in France in the 17th century; its crown was the Palace of Versailles, which was created under the personal leadership of Louis XIV. The fountains of Versailles surprise with their rich variety, many of them are of a mythological nature. For example, the Latona Fountain is a sculptural composition that reveals the ancient Roman myth about the love of the god Jupiter for the goddess Latona. The Four Seasons fountains are located in different places of Versailles and symbolize the changing seasons.
Dancing fountain on the Neva, near Birzhevaya Square on Vasilyevsky Island
At the end of the 17th century, the French style became widespread in Europe, although it underwent changes in the countries that adopted it. Thus, at the beginning of the 18th century, in response to the creation of Versailles, on the orders of Peter I, Peterhof was built, which to this day is famous for its unique cascades and rightfully deserves the title of “capital of fountains.” The first fountain to decorate country residence Russian emperors, was called Sheaf.
The history of the appearance of the famous Samson fountain is interesting. Initially, according to Peter’s idea, in the center of the cascade of Peterhof fountains there should have been a figure of Hercules defeating the Lernaean Hydra, which would have been a symbol of Russia’s victory in the Northern War. However, the successors of the great emperor found more successful symbolism. The fact is that the key battle of Poltava in that war took place on the day of St. Sampson the Host. In this regard, they remembered the biblical legend according to which Samson defeated a lion with his bare hands, which was a key figure on the Swedish coat of arms. This is how the “Samson Tearing the Lion’s Jaw” fountain appeared.
The central building of Peterhof - the Great Cascade - was opened in the 20s of the 18th century. It is believed that the Grand Cascade project was developed by Peter I himself. However, there is no exact information on this matter. The fountain is complemented by various decorations: vases, statues, bas-reliefs. In the center of the cascade there is a large grotto. Along the edges are two staircases, which are also decorated with fountains.
Musical fountain in st. Kushchevskaya
This musical fountain in village Kushchevskaya. At the time of construction, it was the largest singing fountain in southern Russia! Its uniqueness also lies in the unusual shape of the running lines, which are three intersecting ellipses. In this video, the fountain dances to the “1st Tchaikovsky concerto”!
Circus of Dancing Fountains "Aquamarine"
There is no point in talking about how dramatically the appearance of the fountains changed over time. A striking example of fountain art is the complex of the Palace of Versailles. Its splendor was created under the personal leadership of Louis XIV, and it was brought to life by the all-powerful Andre Le Notre, who completed his project in 1668. This French style eventually came to dominate Europe, although it underwent significant changes in the countries that adopted it. Such is Peterhof, the splendor of which has amazed more than one generation of residents. Russian Empire, the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, fountain complexes in Madrid, in Barcelona.
Most famous fountain Madrid - "Cibeles" - was built in the place where Alcala and Castellana avenues converge. The daughter of Heaven and Earth, wife of Saturn, mother of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto is depicted on a chariot drawn by lions. Cibeles has long been a symbol of Madrid. Mythological queen towering in the background Arc de Triomphe Puerta de Alcala bears the poetic nickname “the eternal bride of Madrid”. The Cibeles Fountain is of great artistic and cultural value. The architect Ventura Rodriguez began to develop a plan for the creation of this fountain back in 1777. To bring it to life, it took a lot of resources, both financial and labor. The creation of sculptures, the laying and insulation of pipes, the price of which at that time was much higher than now, did not cost the treasury at all cheap. It was finished five years later, although the fountain was subsequently remodeled several times. According to Rodriguez's plan, the sculpture was carved from stone by Francisco Gutierrez. The stone block for the main sculpture weighed more than 13 tons. Not far from Cibeles, right on the Prado, there is the Neptune fountain, almost equal in size to Cibeles. The idea of its creation also belongs to Ventura Rodriguez. In 1786, the fountain was placed on Recoletes Boulevard, and in 1897 it was moved closer to Atocha.
According to Rodriguez's plan, the Apollo fountain was also built, or, as it is also called, the “Fountain of the Four Seasons,” since the figure of the god is surrounded by sculptures symbolizing the four seasons. It is believed that modern fountains in the center of Madrid (for example, “Playing Dolphins”) are still echoes of Rodriguez’s artistic ideas. And echoes of the sound of the sea, still not giving up hope of connecting with Madrid... In the age of skyscrapers and fountains strive to reach the sky. The tallest modern fountain is located in American state Arizona. Its height is 160 meters. The water is driven by three pumps, each with a capacity of 600 horsepower. The weight of the jet column is more than eight tons. But we prefer beautiful iridescent threads of water, giving freshness and coolness.....
However, it is difficult to see the 152-meter-high jet. This figure is nominal; only rare drops reach such a height. The main jet, which is clearly visible from below, is about 70 meters away. These are the features of the operation of water guns.
This height of water jet has an interesting side effect. In a strong wind, the jet blows away, and some spectators end up wet. Keep this fact in mind when choosing where to watch the show. Most often, the wind blows to the southeast towards the Souq al-Bahar market.
Dubai fountains can lift up to 100 tons of water at a time. The figure seems fantastic, but this is the peak value - if all the pumps and guns work at the same time.
This complex of pumps, guns, lighting and music is controlled using a special program. It was developed by the creators of the fountain - the WET Design company. This program is called VirtualWET.
At night, the fountain is illuminated by 50 main and 6,600 secondary spotlights. The administration claims that they are colored, but in reality the backlight is always only white. Of course, color can always be created with light filters, but then the light output will not be enough, and the backlight will be dim.
Powerful audio speakers are installed along the entire perimeter of the lake, which broadcast music for the dance of the fountains. The repertoire includes both Arabic songs and popular world hits.
The repertoire is constantly updated. For example, the fountains recently began singing and dancing to the song “Let It Go,” the theme song from the Disney animated film “Frozen.” In Russia, this cartoon is called ‘Frozen’, and the title song is called ‘Let It Go and Forget’.
There are more than 20 songs in the repertoire, and they will not be repeated during the day. Unfortunately, no schedule of songs is published, and you won’t be able to time your visit to the fountains to coincide with a specific song. Therefore, we will not publish a list of all songs, there is no point in that.
Only one song is stable on the schedule. The first song to be performed at 18-00 is ‘Sama Dubai’, this is an Arabic song dedicated to the emirate of Dubai and its emir Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
This project cost the Arabs a record amount of 800 million, which is about 217 million US dollars. By comparison, the nearby Burj Khalifa cost $1.5 billion.
As we have already said, no expense was spared on one of the symbols of the UAE’s prosperity. This is a record-breaking fountain. The second most expensive fountain in the world is the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, and it cost only about $40 million, that is, five times cheaper. It is unlikely that the record for the cost of Dubai fountains will be broken in the foreseeable future.
The most grandiose spectacle the fountains show in New Year's Eve, when they work together and in sync with the fireworks that are launched from the ground and from the Burj Khalifa tower. This is an unforgettable sight and the best reason to spend the New Year in Dubai.
If a city becomes the venue for an international event, the hosts not only create the buildings necessary for exhibitions and forums and put the infrastructure in order, but also always come up with something unique that should arouse the admiration of the guests and leave a long-lasting memory.
Barcelona hosted the World Exhibition in 1929, which was held under the slogan: “Fire and the Universe.” The singing fountain of Montjuic was supposed to be the main “miracle” for the participants.
flickr.com/threefingers
Place
The history of Barcelona began with Montjuïc Mountain. The very first settlers, the Iberian tribes, chose one of the slopes of the mountain as the site for their village. The name of the hill was given by the Romans, who placed the temple of their main god, Jupiter, on the top. Mount of Jupiter is a simple name, but sticky. The Romans disappeared in the web of centuries, and the medieval history of the Iberian Peninsula is associated with the appearance of the first Jews in Europe. Oppressed and persecuted, the children of Zion built their cemetery away from prying eyes, on Mount Montjuic. Later, the name of this place began to be associated precisely with this fact, confirming the new version with the consonance of Mons Jovico (Mountain of Jupiter) and Mont Juac (Jewish Mountain).
flickr.com/toni_carvajal
Later, a powerful fortress was built on the top of the mountain to protect against numerous pretenders to the Spanish throne. And when the need for protection disappeared, parks and neighborhoods of wealthy Catalans who did not want to live next to ordinary people appeared here.
ABOUT picturesque place remembered when Barcelona was to host the 1929 World's Fair. That’s when the construction of pavilions, entertainment venues and “singing fountains” began here.
History of the fountain
To create something unprecedented, worthy of a world exhibition, a competition was announced. There were many proposals, but the grandiose fountain proposed by engineer Buigas clearly surpassed all competition entries.
After everything became clear to everyone, a period of “thinking” and “foggy conversations” began, characteristic of making bureaucratic decisions. No one could approve anything for 6 whole months. The project was complex and time-consuming. There was less and less time left. The statesmen kept thinking - they were waiting for insight from above or spiritual insight, or maybe specific envelopes with banknotes... One way or another, when it was simply impossible to delay, the project was approved and launched.
Construction lasted one year. As a result of the dedicated work of three thousand builders, exactly one day before the opening of the exhibition, the fountain began to function. The success of the new building was stunning.
flickr.com/davidmarcel
The exhibition ended, the fountain did not please Barcelona residents for long. Civil War interrupted the life of this technical miracle. The magic fountain of Montjuic was restored only in the mid-50s of the 20th century. At first, the fountain delighted viewers with its numerous jets merging into bizarre shapes and simple lighting. By the early 80s, engineers added musical accompaniment. By the start of the Olympics in 1992, the fountain was completely refurbished. Now it has become more modern and technically advanced.
Some technical information
Magic Fountain of Montjuic official name
on the city map, which no one uses, calling an engineering miracle or a “singing fountain” or “water-light magic”) is truly a technological masterpiece:
5 pumps;
26 tons of water every second;
fountain area - 3 thousand square meters;
7 thousand melodies “in the repertoire”;
3620 water jets;
jet height - 50 meters;
communications - 6 kilometers;
crystal clear water from artesian wells, which you can drink without any fear;
usually the show lasts 20 minutes, then a break of 10 minutes;
a repertoire of melodies from world classics to modern pop hits;
2.5 million viewers annually.
flickr.com/mrsdalloway
The Singing Fountain on Montjuic Mountain in Barcelona became the first art object in the world in which brought together water, light and music. The bizarre interweaving of jets, giving rise to the most unimaginable figures, gave another name to the attraction - dancing fountains.
Tourist information
Fountain show - entertainment is free. The only thing a tourist needs is a camera or video camera to capture this amazing event as a memory.
flickr.com/juanillooo
The operating hours of the singing fountain depend on the season:
October-April - Friday and Saturday, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm (Christmas and New Year- no show);
May-September - Thursday to Sunday, from 8 pm to midnight*.
The show takes place every half hour (the fountains “dance” for 20 minutes and “rest” for 10 minutes). Within one 20-minute program, one classical and one contemporary piece is performed. The musical and figurative design of the show is not repeated during one day. You can enjoy the singing and dancing fountain from two to four hours, depending on the season.
The most eventful fountain day on Montjuic - September 26. On this day the La Merce festival takes place here.. In addition to water dancing, there is a pyrotechnic show and performances by “live” artists.
flickr.com/libaer2002
On this day, tourists are usually here around the clock; in addition to the fountains, there are many attractions on the mountain, the most sophisticated restaurants and cafes, several nightclubs and discos.
*The operating hours of the fountain may vary if heads of state or crowned heads are visiting Montjuïc.
How to get there
Some people prefer to get to Montjuic mountain by tourist bus(23 euros for 1 day of travel in Barcelona). But massively tourists come here by metro- Placa Espanya station (trains of the red and green lines pass through).
It is possible to take the cable car up, for a low cost of travel (2.15 euros), passengers have the opportunity to see the most stunning views of the city. You can take the funicular from the Parallel metro station (red metro line).
