Ashgabat Fountain is a

fountain A fountain, from the Latin "fons" (genitive "fontis"), meaning source or Spring (hydrology), spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect. ...

complex located in

Ashgabat Ashgabat or Asgabat ( tk, Aşgabat, ; fa, عشق‌آباد, translit='Ešqābād, formerly named Poltoratsk ( rus, Полтора́цк, p=pəltɐˈratsk) between 1919 and 1927), is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies ...

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

. The complex currently holds two entries in the

Guinness Book of Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

- one for its size and one for "Most Fountain Pools in a Public Place." Constructed by the Turkish company

Polimeks Polimeks İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. is a Turkish holding company based in Istanbul. Polimeks, established in 1995 and grew to become one of the world’s leading construction companies, in recent years transformed into a global investment holding ...

in 2008, the Ashgabat Fountain is located on the road leading from

Ashgabat Airport Ashgabat International Airport ( tk, Aşgabat halkara howa menzili) , formerly known as Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy International Airport, is one of five international airports in Turkmenistan. It is located within the city limits of Ashgabat (Ashk ...

to the city center of

The Ashgabat Fountain has many decorative elements and is set in impressive

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal o ...

. It is composed of a large-scale system of

water jet Water jet may refer to: * A jet of water under pressure, like in an ornamental fountain * Pump-jet, a marine propulsion mechanism for jetskis and other types of boats * Water jet cutter, a tool for cutting and the machining of engineering material ...

displays accompanied by music and light. The

pool Pool may refer to: Water pool * Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming * Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings * Tide pool, a rocky pool ...

and fountain complex spans 125,000 square meters (12.5 ha) and features 27 synchronized, illuminated, and fully programmable fountains. The fountain's lighting system is powered by solar energy. The complex was designed to represent the legendary ancestors of the

Turkic people The Turkic peoples are a collection of diverse ethnic groups of West Asia, West, Central Asia, Central, East Asia, East, and North Asia as well as parts of Europe, who speak Turkic languages.. "Turkic peoples, any of various peoples whose memb ...

: Oguz Khan and his six sons: Gün Khan (Lord of the Sun), Ay Khan (Lord of the Moon), Yildiz Khan (Lord of the Stars), Gök Khan (Lord of Heaven), Dag Khan (Ruler of the Mountains) and Deniz Khan (Ruler of the Sea). The project's creative direction was led by the "''People's Artist of Turkmenistan''," Babasary Annamuradov. According to the sculpture's creators, it is meant to evoke the Turkmen people's peacefulness, their unbreakable unity, and cohesion, and the creative spirit and power of modern

Links

Photos of the opening

Fountain in Polimeks Insaat

Ashgabat in Guinness Book
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References

Fountains in Asia Buildings and structures in Ashgabat Landscape design history Cultural infrastructure completed in 2008 {{Turkmenistan-stub