Keeping Europe Clean

Vienna's fountain on Schwarzenberg Square and the Russian Monument

Die Hochstrahlbrunnen und das Heldendenkmal der Roten Armee am Schwarzenbergplatz

With a relatively low unemployment rate and an overall high quality of living, Vienna has been rated on top of the best cities in the world to live. Cleanliness seems to support both factors: they even stop to clean the fountains. Apparently the circular pool with 442 jets of water in this fountain are not enough to keep it squeaky clean. An appreciation for culture and all of its attributes is something either ingrained in the people or just in the air around here...or in the water. ;)

The fountain was built in 1873 to celebrate the first water pipeline into the city from the Styrian Alps—yes, we drink fresh, clean Alpine water out of our tap (although bottled water still has its popularity). The fountain does have deeper significance, though:

the largest, central fountain represents a year;
4 medium jets on the inner stone island are for the four seasons;
12 high jets are for the 12 months;
30 jets shoot up from the inner island for the days of the month;
6 fountains on the island + the island itself are for the seven days of the week;
24 low jets are for the hours of the day;
365 small side jets around the edge of the pool are for the days of the year.

At night the fountain is lit in red, blue and green.

With a high temperature on this day of 84°F/29°C, the workers in there may have wished the fountain was active. Maybe the city should offer a big jar of organic bath suds for the workers.