One
particularly large tiled artificial waterfall with a gravity driven
waterfall really attracts the attention of tourists because it is a piece
of grand artwork as well as a water feature.itself. It is named "The
Dragon Waterfalls" because it has 3 water dragon sculptures which spout
water over the blue and white geometrical tiles of the waterfall- slide area.
The waterfall ceramic tiles area is flanked on either side by graceful, marble
statues of beautiful maidens in various poses. It is so unusual and a
photographers shooting spot. I didn't find it beautiful, but garish! The
graceful maidens looked out of place with the gargoil-type of sculpture of the
three gruesome looking dragons. maybe that's the point of the artwork, but it
was lost on me.
Looking
up from the lower garden as we had a wonderful view of the palace with its
golden onion-domes, peach coloured palace walls and baroque architecture.
Even
more surprisingly, is the fact that the waterfalls and fountains flow without
the use of pumps. Water for the fountains comes from natural springs,
collected in the upper gardens and supplied by a gravity-fed water system. The
water system is 22 km long and has been designed to use the natural slope
on the terrain to supply sufficient water for the fountains and cascades of the
estate and to keep them functioning up to 10 hours a day.
It
seemed incredibly unbelievable that such a splendidly spectacular water show
was taking place without the use of any pumps but such is the engineering feat
of Russian garden designers who harnessed the power of natural spring waters
through a system of pipes that still function as well as they did when the
water project was completed in 1724.
Everyone
stayed until the end of the show, madly clicking their cameras and 'oo-ing' and
ar-ing' as the water jets, fountains and waterfalls ebbed and flowed and
spouted and spirted water, high into the air. when it was all over we realiused
that there was no music during the show! or was there? Yes there was because
the water made its own music- the sound of 75 fountains, 138 water jets and 3
waterfalls is unique.
What
another fantastic experience and special tour we had just enjoyed at The
Peterhof Estate but we still had 2 more places to visit and it was now
almost 2pm. We ate a packed lunch on the coach (there was no time for a
leisurely lunch like the one we had yesterday) as we were driven to yet another
palace - one that was to be full of more surprises.
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