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Old Posted Feb 16, 2009, 8:20 PM
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Coldrsx Coldrsx is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Canmore, AB
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some pretty amazing falls we have... but I am still partial to the City of Edmonton's.



from eg linski - http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/eglinski



from redtag.ca

About the Great Divide Waterfall
The Great Divide Waterfall was built in 1980 as an addition to Edmonton's High Level Bridge. Designed by city artist Peter Lewis, the waterfall was constructed to mark the occasion of Alberta's 75th Anniversary. The Great Divide Waterfall is now in operation every long weekend throughout the summer in celebration of holiday events.

The Great Divide Waterfall is 64 metres high (over 7 metres higher than Niagara Falls) and spans 91 metres along the expanse of the bridge. Water for the facility is supplied from a nearby 42 inch water main on the north side of the river. A special valve was designed to connect the water main to a 20 inch pipe leading to the top of the bridge. Extra pumps are used when the waterfall is running to supply the extra demand needed to maintain pressure throughout the water work system. Water pressure alone forces water to the top of the bridge where it enters a horizontal pipe filled with nozzles above the bridge at sidewalk level. The waterfall effect is created when approximately 50,000 litres of water per minute rushes out through the nozzles. For a two hour waterfall showing the water measures approximately 4,600 cubic metres.

The design for the Waterfall was originally conceived by Lewis as an artistic concept to salute the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. The plan was initially turned down due to technical problems and the idea was shelved because there was not enough time to complete the project for the Games. Lewis modified his design and the project was approved by Edmonton City Council.

Construction of the Great Divide Waterfall took three months and cost approximately $500,000 to build with the city providing a $100,000 grant to complete the project. The Great Divide Waterfall was officially turned on by Mayor C. J. Purves on September 1, 1980.
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