International Fountain, Fountain and tourist attraction in Seattle Center, US.
The International Fountain is a large outdoor water feature at Seattle Center, a public campus in the heart of the city. Jets rise from a wide, shallow basin at ground level, shooting water upward in changing patterns throughout the day.
The fountain was designed by two Japanese architects for the 1962 World's Fair held in Seattle, chosen from a large number of submitted proposals. In the 1990s it went through a major redesign that changed the mechanics and opened the basin to direct visitor interaction.
During events at Seattle Center, the water jets are choreographed to music, and people gather on the surrounding steps to watch together. The fountain is a shared space where locals and visitors mix naturally, especially on warm afternoons.
The fountain is open year-round, though water displays run more frequently and actively during warmer months. Visitors can walk freely around and through the jets, so wearing clothes you don't mind getting wet is a good idea on hot days.
Unlike most fountains, the jets here come straight out of the flat surface with no raised nozzles, so there is nothing to trip over when walking through the water. This flush design was a deliberate choice made during the 1990s redesign to welcome people of all ages into the basin.
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