Parque Reserva in Peru
In the midst of the bustling city of Lima is a
beautiful green oasis where the water flows freely and people gather to
brush away the cares of the day. Parque Reserva (Park of the Reserve) is a
lovely city park nestled between two of the city’s busiest streets -
Paseo de la Republica
Expressway and Arequipa Avenue – providing a great place for busy Lima
residents and visitors to gather and enjoy some respite.
The park
sits on 8 hectares (about 20 acres) and was designed by French architect
Claude Sahut, who envisioned a neo-classical style for this attractive city
park. The land on which it sits once belonged to an adjacent park – the Park
of the Exposition – but was separated in the 1920s and built to honor “the
reserve” – namely, the last soldiers that fought in the battles of San Juan
and Miraflores during the War of the Pacific, a skirmish between Chile and
Peru in the 1880s. The park was completed in 1929 and now holds many
sculptures by some famous and not-so-famous Peruvian artists.
While it’s
fun to peruse the sculptures and simply relax in the park, most visitors
come here for one specific reason – to see the “Magic Water Tour”, known in
Spanish as El Circuito Magico de Agua. Completed during the summer of 2007,
this amazing water spectacle is one of the premiere attractions in Lima and
is a favorite of all ages, particularly little ones. It was one of a series
of projects proposed by the city’s mayor in hopes of reinvigorating the city
center. Many were opposed to the project because of its high cost and
because a fee is now charged to enter the park; however, the small fee has
not been a deterrent for the most part and the proceeds do benefit other
city works.
The Magic
Water Tour actually consists of several fountains – 13 in all, many of which
are interactive. This is the largest fountain complex in the world, a fact
of which many Peruvians are very proud. The largest of the fountains is
dubbed Fuente Magica, the Magic Fountain, and is the centerpiece of the
circuit. It shoots water into the air at heights that reach 265 feet (80
meters). Other fountains in the complex include a 100-foot long Tunnel
Fountain of Surprises through which individuals may walk, daring to take a
chance of getting wet. There’s also a great kid’s fountain that is
automated, shooting streams of water every now and then in no particular
pattern, allowing its young visitors to get soaked. A favorite with many
visitors is the Fantasia Fountain, which should definitely be visited at
night when guests can view a laser and picture show projected onto the water
and enjoy a synchronized “water ballet” set to music.
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