Today’s run was really a victory lap, as Oregon State won its fourth straight game and earned a place in the national championship series here in Omaha. This morning was my first opportunity to explore the area on foot, as Lewis & Clark did back in 1804. They discovered conspicuous earthen mounds that historians believe might have been the remains of an Indian village. It’s now the site of Heartland of America Park and the ConAgra Foods campus headquarters. A mile-long trail leads around the lake and its three fountains, including the modern, computerized water spout rising 300 feet in the air. I was curious about how it compares with the world’s largest and most spectacular fountains:

  • Bellagio Fountain — Las Vegas. … 1,000 feet
  • King Fahd’s Fountain– Jeddah. … 1,023 feet
  • The Archibald Fountain — Sydney. …no vertical
  • The Buckingham Fountain — Chicago. …150 feet
  • The Fountain of Wealth — Singapore. … 98 feet
  • The Nations Friendship Fountain — Moscow. … no vertical 
  • Trevi Fountain — Rome…68 feet
  • Magic Fountain of Montjuic — Barcelona….no vertical
  • The Burj Khalifa Fountain — Dubai…500 feet 

Omaha does not make the list, but nonetheless it is a grand site, and at night apparently becomes a light show – I’ll check that out later. Keep in mind that Yellowstone Park’s Old Faithful only shoots water 185 feet in the air, so it’s quite impressive to watch. I was also enamored by the ConAgra facilities with brick sidewalks, streets, and buildings along the south end of the lake. My wife reminded me not to be too taken by the ConAgra facade because they did just discontinue her preferred brand of peanut butter. (See Post #543). This morning’s run then took me downtown and near the ballpark where I may get the chance to see Oregon State win the College World Series!