The Fountains of Yerevan

Yerevan, Armenia, boasts a variety of fountains that enhance the city's beauty and provide a refreshing escape. Among the most famous is the Yerevan Republic Square's singing fountains, which gather crowds every year. The idea to build a pool in the square came after seeing similar designs in a Soviet film about Iran. In 1953, a structure with fountains appeared in Republic Square. In 1971, the fountains began to "sing" with live orchestra music. In the 2000s, the fountains started to deteriorate, leading to a complete reconstruction by the French company Aquatic Show International, which also created the Batumi fountains. The reconstruction cost about $1.8 million and included new music selections of Armenian, European, and classical melodies. After the 2011 reconstruction, the fountains' functionality improved with moving streams and water screens. The high streams reach 50 meters, and the fountains operate from late May to late September or October, depending on the weather, from 10 PM to midnight. The show concludes with Charles Aznavour's "Une vie d'amour". Other notable fountains in Yerevan include those dedicated to Yerevan's 2750th anniversary, built in 1968 and renovated in 2012. There are also the fountains at the Republic Square metro station, constructed in 1982. Additional fountains can be found in areas such as Charles Aznavour Square, the main avenue between Nalbandyan and Hanrapetutyan streets, the English Garden, and Youth Park.