With the rate at which new projects for mega-structures and
architectural wonders (that are more suitably consigned to the realm of science
fiction and fantasy) are being launched every other month in Dubai, it is only
a matter of time before the oil-rich emirate would announce a project like
this.
This time, it’s a mega water fountain that would form the
showpiece of Downtown Burj Dubai in the Burj Dubai Lake, taking pride of place
alongside the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai.
Built at an estimated cost of $218 million, and stretching
the length of two football fields, the fountain is capable of shooting water to
a height of 500 feet (or more than 150 meters into the air) – the equivalent of
a 50-story building. That’s 22,000 gallons of spray and mist to cool the hot
air in the Gulf nation.
The project’s developer, Dubai-based Emaar Properties, says
the mega fountain will be 25 percent larger than the famed Fountains of
Bellagio in Las Vegas. And like Bellagio, more than 6,000 lights and 50 color
projectors would be installed to create a gigantic visual spectacle to the
tunes of Arabic and international music.
Emaar has even offered a cash prize of
100,000 dirhams (or US$27,000) in a “Name the Fountain” competition. The
fountain is due for completion in 2009.
www.emaar.com
via Arabian Business