Situated at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhone River, in the heart of Geneva city, Switzerland, lies a powerful water fountain, the Jet d'Eau, or water-jet.

The fountain is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over Geneva at 10 km altitude.

500 liters of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140 metres by two groups of pumps, operating on 500 kW / 2,400 V electricity. The water leaves the nozzle at an amazing speed of 200 km/h. When it is in operation, at any given moment, there are about 2,000 litres of water in the air.

The fountain, which operates all day in summer, and at certain daytime hours during the fall and spring, is shut down entirely in winter because of frosty weather conditions. In summer evening hours it is lit by 13.5 kW of light in the evening.


The Jet d'Eau fountain in Geneva, Switzerland