The Dubai Fountain, 8 acres (32,374 m²), is set in downtown Dubai’s 30-acre (121,405 m²) Burj Khalifa Lake. The fountains are “choreographed” to project water in the air in complex patterns and are combined with light shows at night that can be seen from 20 miles (32km) away. The lights, which shine upward from the floor of the fountain, are visible from the international space station, making it the brightest spot in the Middle East and perhaps the world.
Visitors are able to take a traditional Abra, or sailboat rides, as they take in the water and light show and view the world’s tallest building in the background. Burj Khalifa Lake was built at a cost of $218 million. The man-made lake is the equivalent of more than two football fields and a quarter size bigger than the fountains at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The Dubai Fountain shoots as much as 22,000 gallons (83,000 l) of water up to 500 feet (150m) or about as tall as a 50 story building in an instant. There are 6,600 lights and 50 color projectors choreographed into over 1,000 different water and light combinations. The water and light show is accompanied by music from classical to contemporary Arabic and world music.
WET Design, a Water Feature Design Firm
WET Design, founded by former Disney Imagineers, has designed over 200 fountains and water features around the world. The company employees water, fire, ice, fog and lights.
WET Design US Patent US:4,892,250 (Image Courtesy www.goolge/patents/US4892250)
WET Design has pioneered a number of patented technologies now common in fountains built around the world:
- laminar flow fountains
- fountains that rise from the open-jointed paving instead of from pools
- fountains powered by compressed air rather than pumps
- fountains that use underwater robots
Take a look at one of the company’s patents.
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References and related content:
- Burj Khalifa | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Lighting | Architectural Record
- LiveLeak.com – Dubai Fountain
- The Dubai Fountain – World’s Largest Dancing Fountain | Amusing Planet
