Jet d’Eau

The Jet d’Eau is one of the most famous sights in Geneva and one of the largest fountains in the world, shooting water approximately 460-feet high. The fountain became a landmark almost as if by mistake; in 1886 it was used as a safety valve to release pressure from the hydraulic turbines which were installed in the Rhône River to provide power to the city. One night, after the craftsman had closed the turbine’s valves, the excess pressure was released through the Jet d’Eau. The fountain became a tourist attraction over time, and though it no longer serves its original purpose, it has become an icon of the city.