Emirate of Dubai can be ranked among the modern wonders of the world. All of his construction projects are superior to world analogues in scale, grandiosity, external effects and cost. One of the wonders in Dubai is the fountain, as colossal, incredible, magnificent as everything else in this city. Rather, this is not one fountain, but a whole ensemble producing a musical and visual show, with a complex lighting system. This complex is called singing, dancing, choreographic fountains.
The fountain in Dubai is open day and night. When, after sunset, the dance of water jets begins in the color illumination of the spotlights, the spectacle is striking in its beauty, scale and graceful coordination of performance.
History of Creation
The customer of the project of this unique complex is Emaar Properties, a real estate development and management company in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, the fountains were designed by the engineering and design firm WET Design (California), whichwas the first to use air under such high pressure to create choreographed water shows. At one time, she carried out the project of the famous Las Vegas fountains at the Bellagio casino of the Lake Hotel.
The construction cost AED 800 million (US$218 million). To choose the name of the fountain, Emaar Properties organized a competition, the result of which was announced at the end of October 2008. Since February 2009, testing of the fountain with the already approved name "Dubai" began, and on May 8, the ceremonial launch of the fountain and the simultaneous opening of the Dubai shopping center took place. In a speech from Emaar Properties, "The Dubai Fountain is an expression of the creative mind."
Description
Dubai Fountain, the largest of its kind in the world, is installed in the Dubai Development Center in front of the Dubai Mall in the shallow (1.5 m deep) artificial lake Burj Khalifa, 275 m long. The complex is formed by jet mechanisms located along two arcs and five rings of different diameters. The work of the fountains is accompanied by one of the many musical compositions (about 40 pieces) played through the speakers installed around the lake. The system creates many different patterns and combinations of movement of water jets in the air.
To the musical accompaniment, water shoots up several levels of height, in different parts of the system, with different intervals and sequences, depending on which melody is being played. The unique dynamism of water is createdswivel nozzles, thanks to which moving jets hit in different directions, while repeatedly bending, twisting in arcs and spirals. The backlight complements this visual and sound composition, the view of the Dubai Fountains (photo - in the article) is truly mesmerizing.
How does it work?
To supply multiple jets of this power, high-pressure air is used, supplied by several pumps and water systems. Changing the pressure gives you options for height, speed and sequence of water shots. Jets with complex movable mechanisms that make the jets dance are called "rowers" and are autonomous robots. "Rowers" act as leading instruments on which the entire choreographic composition and the smooth transition of jets in legato movements are based. Some "rowers" have jets that create circular and spiral flows. The moving mechanism of the other rowers creates the effect of a wrist with endless movement in a circle or side to side.
Water cannons of different capacities with larger nozzles work under extremely high pressure. They are called "shooters", they throw water to a colossal height and are divided by power. "Super shooters" shoot water jets up to 73 m high into the air. Nozzles of "extreme shooters" push out water, create the strongest noise, and their jets reach a height of 152.4 m, which is equivalent to the height of a 50-story building. Because it takes a long time to re-push the water to a greater height to createsufficient pressure, these fountains are hardly ever used in daily shows.
Control mechanism
The main control room for the Dubai Fountain is located on the top level of the adjacent Dubai Mall. The choreography of each performance is first created by a unique computer simulation program called VirtualWET, which simulates in real time the appearance of the jets, including the effects of gravity and wind. Musical themes are randomly selected.
Backlight
An underwater lighting system at the base of the jets with 6,600 spotlights and 25 color projectors not only complements, but forms a special "choreographic" effect. This, combined with the constantly changing movement of the water, accurately expresses all the nuances of the musical composition: tempo, pitch, smooth legato transitions, short staccato impulses, amplified drum intro.
A spokesman for WET, Dubai-based singing fountain maker, said of the elaborate lighting action: “It combines the magic of water and the elements of nature to evoke generalized sensations of the movement of light and emotion, which should create harmony in the outside world and our feelings.”
Music accompaniment
The pieces have been selected by Emaar from the resources of classical and contemporary world music. The musical pieces are chosen taking into account the possibility of visually interpreting them with a fountain. At the same time there wasthe rhythmic pattern, the variable power of the sound, the expressiveness of the works are important. One of the selection criteria was that the songs should be familiar to the public and evoke positive emotions. Also important is the timelessness of works that are well received by people of different generations. The musical repertoire caters to the tastes of Dubai's cosmopolitan population of over 180 nationalities.
During the performance, pieces of music lasting from 2 to 4.5 minutes are played continuously. Day time fountains in Dubai: 13:00 - 13:30. Evening show: 18:00 - 23:00 with a 30-minute extension on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sometimes during the day during testing, the complex works without music.
Fountain in numbers
A few facts about this grand structure:
- 275 meters - this is the length of the fountain, twice the length of the football field;
- 150 meters - the maximum height of the water column created by the most powerful water gun;
- 83,000 liters - the volume of water that is thrown into the air every second by the fountain when operating at full capacity;
- 25 color options and 6,600 WET Superlights are used in this complex;
- 32 km is the maximum distance at which the beam of the fountain's searchlights can be seen.
And finally, I would like to add that over 47 million people have already visited this water choreographic ensemble since its launch.
