Fountain on Salavat Yulaev Square

The fountain on Salavat Yulaev Square is a light and music fountain in Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, in the southern part of the square next to the Salavat Yulaev Monument. Its basin is shaped like a kurai, a plant that has become one of the symbols of Bashkir culture, and the full pattern can only be seen from above. The fountain is regarded as one of the city's landmarks and a source of local pride.

History

The fountain opened in 2007, when Salavat Yulaev Square was being reconstructed. It was designed by the Ufa architect Rishat Mullagildin together with the Japanese architect Kiyokazu Arai. The kurai was chosen as a symbol of unity among the people of Bashkortostan: its stem gives its name to the national wind instrument, and the flower appears on the republic's coat of arms.

Since then the fountain has been switched on every spring after the winter break. On 30 April 2018, for example, the season was opened by the head of the Ufa city administration, Irek Yalalov, in front of officials and residents, with performances by young artists. Yalalov said that by tradition Ufa's fountains are turned on before the May holidays, after the citywide spring clean-up, and thanked the volunteers who took part in it. The fountain, like the city's other fountains, is maintained by the municipal services.

Design of the kurai fountain

The structure is a little over 77 metres long. From the ground only part of the pattern is visible; the full kurai shape can only be seen from a height. The water is switched on and off automatically. After dark the fountain is lit in many colours and works as a light and music fountain, with the lights and jets changing to the music.

Nearby

Salavat Yulaev Square is one of Ufa's main public spaces. Besides the fountain, its southern part holds the monument to Salavat Yulaev, the Bashkir national hero who fought in the Peasant War led by Yemelyan Pugachev. The Toratau Congress Hall stands on the eastern side of the square. City festivals and concerts take place here, and in summer the square with its fountain is a popular place for a walk.

Good to know

The fountain runs in the warm season: by tradition it is turned on in late April, before the May holidays. The lights are best seen in the evening after dark. The square is in central Ufa, off Pyatigorskaya Street, and is easy to reach by public transport or taxi.