TheCaptain James Cook Memorial was built by theGovernment of Australia to commemorate the Bicentenary ofCaptain James Cook's first sighting of the east coast of Australia. The memorial includes a water jet located in the central basin and a skeleton globe sculpture at Regatta Point ofLake Burley Griffin inCanberra, showing the paths of Cook's expeditions. On 25 April 1970, QueenElizabeth II officially inaugurated the memorial.[1]
Thewater jet is driven by two 4-stagecentrifugal pumps capable of pumping up to 250 litres per second against ahead of 183 metres. The water velocity at the water nozzle is 260 km/h. While running both pumps simultaneously the main jet throws approximately six tons of water into the air at any instant, reaching a maximum height of 152 metres. Alternatively the jet can be run on a single pump reaching a lower height of 114 metres. During special occasions it can be illuminated, often with coloured lights.[2] The design of the jet is based on theJet d'Eau inGeneva, Switzerland as a result of high-level diplomatic negotiations.[3]
The water jet operates daily from 11 am to 2 pm.[3] In periods of high wind, the jet is automatically disabled as water landing on the nearbyCommonwealth Avenue Bridge can be a hazard to traffic. The water jet must also be occasionally shut down when drought lowers the water level of the lake.[4]
Media related toCaptain Cook Memorial, Canberra at Wikimedia Commons
35°17′25.6″S149°7′46.5″E / 35.290444°S 149.129583°E /-35.290444; 149.129583
