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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] It is also one of the largest fountains in the world.^[2] Situated at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhone River, 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 (132 gallons) 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 over one megawatt of electricity.^[3]^[4]^[5] The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000 litres (1849 gallons) 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.

History

The first Jet d'Eau was installed in 1886 at the Usine de la Coulouvrenière, a little further downstream from its present location.^[5] 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.^[6]

Since 2003, the fountain has operated during the day all year round, except in case of frost and particularly strong wind.^[5]^[7] It also operates in the evening between spring and autumn and is lit by a set of 12 lights totaling 108 kW.^[6]

Images

View from Cathedrale St. Pierre
Boat cruise on Lake Geneva
Jet d'Eau with a rainbow
Aerial view
Jet d'Eau at night
Jet d'Eau illuminated
Jet d'Eau with blue light
Jet d'Eau before nightfall
Jet d'Eau at Day
Jet d'Eau at night white illuminated

Notes

External links

Template:Fr icon Official website
Jet visible on Google Maps
City of Geneva site.
Jet d'Eau fountain photos
Jet d'Eau in action - Xvid codec required

46°12′26″N 6°09′22″E / 46.20722°N 6.15611°E / 46.20722; 6.15611

[1] Genève Tourisme - Geneva - Genf - Ginevra - Ginebra

[2] SIG Brochure "Jet d'eau", p1 - "La Course des Jets d'eau" ("The water fountain competition")(French)

[3] Genève Tourisme - Découvrir Genève - Jet d'eau

[4] City of Geneva - Jet d'eau (Water Fountain)

[switzerlandisyours-5] Geneva Jet d’Eau fountain Switzerland

[sig-patrimoine-6] Patrimoine Genève - Le Jet d'eau de Genève

[7] Patrimoine Genève - Le Jet d'eau de Genève, "Horaires 2008" (2008 Schedule)

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[2]

[3]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Jet-d'eau-Genève.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Jet d'Eau fountain in [[Geneva]]]]
 [[Image:Jet d'eau 1886.jpg|right|thumb|220px|The first jet d'eau, around 1886.]]
-The '''Jet d'Eau''' ({{IPA-fr|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.<ref>[http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/ Genève Tourisme - Geneva - Genf - Ginevra - Ginebra<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is also one of the largest fountains in the world.<ref>[http://www.sig-ge.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)]</ref> Situated at the point where [[Lake Geneva]] empties into the [[Rhone River]], it is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over [[Geneva]] at an altitude of 10&nbsp;km (33,000&nbsp;ft).
+The '''Jet d'Eau''' ({{IPA-fr|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.<ref>[http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/ Genève Tourisme - Geneva - Genf - Ginevra - Ginebra<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is also one of the largest fountains in the world.<ref>[http://www.sig-ge.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)]</ref> Situated at the point where [[Lake Geneva]] empties into the [[Rhone River]], it is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over [[Geneva]] at an altitude of 10&nbsp;km (33,000&nbsp;ft).
 Five hundred litres (132 gallons) of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140&nbsp;metres (459&nbsp;feet) by two 500&nbsp;[[kW]] pumps, operating at 2,400&nbsp;[[Volt|V]], consuming over one megawatt of electricity.<ref>[http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/?rubrique=0000000172 Genève Tourisme - Découvrir Genève - Jet d'eau<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.ville-ge.ch/en/decouvrir/en-bref/jet.htm City of Geneva - Jet d'eau (Water Fountain)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="switzerlandisyours">[http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/geneva/jetdeau.html Geneva Jet d’Eau fountain Switzerland<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200&nbsp;km/h (124&nbsp;mph). When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000&nbsp;litres (1849&nbsp;gallons) 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.