The present invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a pylon, a pod mounted rotatably on the pylon, a generator arranged within the pod and having a rotor and a stator, and at least one fan in the region of the pod. In order to reduce the entry of moisture, sand and other foreign substances into the pod and also to reduce the fan noise which reaches the exterior, in accordance with the invention there is provided an arrangement of the fan within the pod, wherein the fan sucks in outside air through a downwardly open first air gap, in particular between the pylon and the pod. In that respect the invention is based on the realization that the air flow along the wind power installation and in particular in the region of the pod has a markedly pronounced horizontal component and at best a markedly less pronounced vertical component. In other words the wind and therewith the foreign substances transported thereby flow at the windward side along the pod to the lee side and have then passed the wind power installation. If therefore air is sucked in through a downwardly open air gap, then at most very fine particles can still also be sucked in, which more specifically can be borne upwardly by the air flow, against the effect of the force of gravity. As a result the suction intake of relatively large particles of sand and dust and also the suction intake of raindrops which, as anyone knows, are considerably heavier, is reduced to a high degree, if not entirely prevented.