When it comes to indoor water fountains, you should add the Centre Court’s fountain in Canada on your list of things to see. Just off Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario, this fountain can be found on the first level of the Eaton Centre. The jet sprays are designed to reach upwards of fifty feet, making this fountain a real crowd pleasure. In addition to the water show, visitors can toss change into the basin to make a wish.
Originally, Eaton Centre was designed as a massive retail mall, making it a wonderful attraction for locals and visitors alike. To enhance the mall’s appeal, this beautiful fountain was designed and built. The construction of the Eaton Centre’s fountain includes 44 nozzles, each made to fill up a huge reservoir, which has 20 nozzles that spray the water upward. In addition, the fountain is designed with one primary nozzle capable of shooting high, three times in a row. Additionally, this fountain has a unique design known as a zero-depth entry, which means there is no barrier so the water’s plane is the same as the floor’s plane.
Although the Eaton Centre fountain was first built in 1979, it remains a great tourist attraction today. The builder, Tim Eaton and architect, Eb Zeilder, joined forces to create a working fountain that would entertain the crowds. This collaboration was such a huge success that this indoor water fountain has been showing off for people over the past 25 years, with no end in sight.
Interestingly, for all the time the fountain has been in existence, it has been a wishing well. As a result, money tossed in, followed by a wish, has built a fund of more than $2 million dollars. All of the money however, has been kindly donated to various charities in the Toronto, Ontario area. To ensure money is used wisely and not stolen, managers of the fountain collect it on a weekly basis.
In addition to the operation of the fountain and the gathering of the money, it is also important that good water quality be maintained. Even fountains used for show need to have clean water to eliminate health concerns or the spread of illness. Because of this, even the Eaton Centre fountain must meet strict standards. Typically, fountains of this type are constructed with some type of filtration system, which helps purify the water.
Sadly, this particular centre was originally the focus of some controversy, with many people believing it would never get off the ground. However, with a great plan and sheer determination, the builders proved skeptics wrong. Another fascinating aspect of the Centre that complements the fountain includes the Canadian geese made from fiberglass that hang from the ceiling. Considering that Eaton Centre and its magnificent fountain receive more than one million visitors each year, you can see that it has turned out to be a huge success with no sign of it letting up in the near future.
While shopping at Eaton Centre, you and the family can grab something to eat, sit down near the fountain, and enjoy the beautiful show it displays. You will find the water shooting toward the sky peaceful and entertaining. While not one of the larger indoor water fountains, the Eaton Centre fountain still makes a great and lasting impression. Be sure to take your camera so you can take pictures of the various water schemes, showing family and friends back home what great sites Canada has to offer.
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