The website for the locks state this:
The locks serve 3 purposes.
* To maintain the water level of the fresh water Lake Washington and Lake Union at 20 to 22 feet above sea level.
* To prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes (saltwater intrusion).
* To move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa.
The complex includes two locks, a small (30 x 150 ft, 8.5 x 45.7 meter) and a large (80 x 825, 24.4 x 251.5 meter). The complex also includes a (235-foot, 71.6 meter) spillway with six (32 x 12-foot (3.7 m), 9.8 x 3.7 meter) gates to assist in water-level control. A fish ladder is integrated into the locks for migration of anadromous fish, notably salmon.
The grounds feature a visitors center, as well as the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens.
Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the locks were formally opened on July 4, 1917, although the first ship passed on August 3, 1916. They were named after U.S. Army Major Hiram Martin Chittenden, the Seattle District Engineer for the Corps of Engineers from April 1906 to September 1908. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Gates to the Small Lock Starting to Open
Boats Leaving While Others Wait to Enter
Loading the Large Vessel First
Shut the Doors!
Large Vessel at Lake Level
Larger of the 2 Locks Looking Towards Lake Union
Saturday Concert in the GardensBefore leaving the parking area at the Locks, I popped on over to the Lockspot for a delicious fish sandwich!
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10 comments:
Great shots of a great place! Always enjoy going there. Thanks for stopping by and your comment -- believe me, I was given very specific lessons by a neighbor on how to pronounce Sequim! She made me repeat it ten times!! I promised not to screw up when I get there.
Very cool shots and information!!!
I didn't know that there were locks on that lake ...even though my hubby spent quite a bit of his life in that area. Once he wakes up I shall ask him why he never told me about them as he is always going on about the Space Needle, the ballpark and so on. :-)
I remember going to and thru the Ballard Locks many times. It was always entertaining. Great post and captures.
wonderful place. thanks for sharing.
Fascinating and a lot bigger than any lock I've ever been through.
Sally: Very cool post and some great photos of a neat place.
wow it is really cool! So important informations and you visited this fabulous spot! wowwwwwwwwwww
Very interesting and your pictures are amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
Luna(from Brazil) and mommy Léia
Such an interesting post and so many people watching too.
We visited the lock several years ago. I was fascinated. I could still be standing there watching! Beautiful park, too. There was a flower show going on and I remember the gorgeous fuschia. Thanks for the educational post, photos and memories!
Very informative post. Looks like a busy area, with lots of boats and people.
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