The “Iron Fountain” of Gyumri

The image shows the “Iron Fountain” of Gyumri at two different times: while it was working and after it stopped. The fountain was designed by the architect Artur Tarkhanyan and opened in 1982. It worked until 1988, when the Spitak earthquake destroyed most of the city. Also known as the “Fountain of Friendship”, the structure miraculously survived the earthquake and became a symbol of the resilience of the Armenian people. Because of its unusual shape, local people sometimes call it the “UFO”. After the earthquake the fountain stopped working, but its iron structure has survived.

In the lower colour photograph the fountain is working, with three cyclists in front. The upper photograph shows the same structure, rusted, with an empty basin. In the upper left corner is an English inscription: “Gyumri, Armenia, Iron Fountain, 1982–1988”.