The fountain was originally intended to be named 'The Golden Spike'.
Each statue represents one of the 16 republics that were part of the Soviet Union at the time of the fountain's construction.
The facial features of the sculptures were modeled after specific women, including the ballerina Viral Kipiani and the wife of the architect.
The gold leaf covering the sculptures requires periodic restoration to maintain the gilded finish against Moscow's climate.
There are over 800 individual water jets integrated into the fountain's plumbing system.
The fountain basin is decorated with red granite and gray marble tiles.
The sculptures are arranged in a circle, alternating their orientation around the central wheat sheaf.
The Friendship of Nations fountain is the centerpiece of the VDNKh exhibition park in Moscow. It features sixteen gilded statues of maidens, each representing a Soviet republic in their traditional national dress. Designed by architects Konstantin Topuridze and Grigori Konstantinopolsky, it was completed in 1954. The fountain basin holds approximately 4,000 cubic meters of water. A complex system of eight powerful pumps drives the water jets to a height of up to 24 meters. The statues are constructed from copper and finished with gold leaf. The fountain is situated on the main central axis of the VDNKh grounds. It serves as an example of Stalinist Empire architecture with significant socialist realist sculptural elements.
From the ground level on the northern side, capturing the reflection of the gold statues in the water with the pavilion in the background.
Visit during the evening to see the synchronized light and water display.
Walk the entire perimeter of the basin to view each of the sixteen distinct national costumes in detail.
Combine the visit with a walk through the surrounding historic pavilions of the VDNKh park.
Attempting to climb on the fountain structure or wading into the water, which is strictly prohibited.
The fountain operates only during the warmer months, typically from late spring through early autumn, and is drained during the winter.
