The Peterhof fountain complex is considered the most refined and luxurious in the world. Created almost 300 years ago, it has become one of the main decorations of the former country residence of the Russian tsars. Each of the fountains is unique in shape and even in the pattern of the jets.
In total, there are about 150 “water extravaganzas” and 4 cascades on the territory of the museum-reserve, the main part of which is concentrated in the Lower Park. Some of the fountains were destroyed or badly damaged during the war, but they were reconstructed according to the drawings preserved in the archives.
For the arrangement of fountains, the natural terrain with a significant slope towards the sea coast was used. Unlike Versailles, pumps and other water-lifting mechanisms are not used here. From the springs on the Ropshinsky Heights, located 20 kilometers from Peterhof, water flows through specially dug channels into 18 ponds-catchments and from there rushes through metal underground pipes to the cascades and four groups of fountains of the Lower Garden. The water supply system is improving over time, but in general the principle of operation remains the same as it was developed under Tsar Peter I.