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"All Is Water" Types of Fountains |
I. Introduction
There are as many kinds of fountains as you can
imagine. In fact when a client calls for the first time and wants information
about a fountain, we first have to ascertain what kind of fountain he or she has
in mind. Since the term fountain can mean anything, let's spend a moment to
define the general types. For more information about each type, including
photographs, click on the category.
II. Types of Fountains
Floating lake fountains have been very popular among businesses and municipalities for a long time. In recent years more and more residential homeowners with lakes or ponds have been installing them. These fountains serve two important functions. One obvious purpose is to add beauty to a body of water in a natural setting. The other is to aerate the water by adding oxygen, thereby helping to maintain a more healthy ecosystem.
Some clients primarily want the beauty that a fountain adds to their lake, and are rewarded with cleaner looking water as a side benefit. Other clients simply want aeration, but are pleasantly surprised that they can get healthy water in a dramatic way. It truly is the best of both worlds.
Like most fountains, lights enhance the night
time effect, giving the water a magical quality.
B. Standing Statuary Fountains
Standing statuary fountains can be made of cement or metal. They can be self contained or part of a larger water feature. Typically they have a hollow center allowing water to be pumped to the top, cascading down or shooting out, into a reservoir where the process begins again.
When made of cement, they may be finished or left bare. Metal fountains are commonly constructed using iron, brass, aluminum or copper. They too can be finished (with paint or patina) or left bare. Metal statuary is usually more costly to purchase, and can require more maintenance to control corrosion. Cement fountains, while less expensive, can sometimes crack during freezing weather.
As mentioned above, some standing fountains are
self contained. Others are meant to be part of a larger water feature. The self
contained type can be placed inside a larger basin to make a more impressive display. Be
sure to visit the photo gallery to view examples.
C. Ponds
Ponds are technically not fountains, but can incorporate fountains. Since they fall into the general category of 'water feature' we include them here. They are constructed using vinyl liners, hard plastic shells, or concrete. Sometimes they incorporate rocks and boulders. This gives them a natural, earthy look.
Though they may contain fish, water lilies or other plant life, this need not be the case. Water gardening is a very enjoyable art. Ponds afford the water gardener the landscape within which to create a rich world of life.
Waterfalls are an ideal enhancement to ponds since they add movement,
aeration and realism. There are numerous websites devoted to water gardening
listed in our links section that we invite you to explore.
Public fountains are a breed unto themselves due to their shear size and majesty. While they may contain any or all of the elements of fountains listed above, it is their grand scale and public accessibility that sets them apart.
Businesses and municipalities usually have a large budget to work with, so designers can let their imaginations reign. The results are often impressive water displays that inspire awe and wonder. They also show us what we can accomplish on a smaller scale in our own backyard or front yard.
Public fountains can be found in every major city in the world, and some unlikely places as well. In the United States, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. are famous for having a large number of fountains. But even here in Memphis, Tennessee we have many beautiful fountains to enjoy. In our photo gallery we feature some of these. We invite you to submit your photos of public fountains for inclusion on this website. They may be from your hometown, or from vacation trips you've taken. Please send them along. We'd love for you to share them with the rest of us.
E. Waterfalls
I give waterfalls their own category although they can be found in all the previous categories. Waterfalls have a dynamic of their own and are sometimes the sole feature of a water display. There a several design considerations unique to waterfalls that need to be addressed separately.
Waterfalls can cascade over rocks, walls, sculptures and any other object. It can also be a shear descent touching nothing on its way down to a body of water below. A waterfall is distinct from other types of falling water in that it comes down in a sheet which has width. The width may be several inches or several feet, it may be smooth or have texture, it may be foamy or clear.
Rolling sphere fountains are some of the most interesting designs you will see. As the name suggests there is a sphere made of marble, granite or calcite that is perfectly fitted onto a pedestal. Water rises out of the pedestal and lifts the sphere. While the sphere is lifted it can be rolled easily even if it weighs hundreds of pounds.
III. Conclusion
There are many fountains that are hybrids of the types listed above. There are types that don't easily fit into a single category, or could fit into several categories. Fountain classification is thus not a hard science, but arbitrary by nature. I classify them simply to make the topic manageable and the website navigable. If the categories don't suit your taste or if you think I've ignored an important group, please bring it to my attention.
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