Geneva - Jet D'eau

One of the most impressive sights in Geneva is the gigantic water fountain known as the Jet D'eau. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city and is a big tourist attraction.

500 liters of water are propelled up to a height of 140 meters and at a speed of 200 km per hour.

It really started out life, in 1886, as a safety feature for a hydro power generator. As demand for high pressure water wasn't high at night a safety valve was used to diminish the pressure at that time.

In 1891, recognizing its potential as a tourist attraction the city moved it to its present location in a more exposed part of the lake where it awes thousands of tourists each year.

Photo credits: Maria Carme Balcells, Mikhail Basov, Alistair Scott, Abdul Sami Haqqani.