Having friends visiting is not only fun, but can be
educational. This summer I spent a few days sightseeing in Seattle while we had
friends visiting.
One of the places we went to was Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
or Ballard Locks to which they are more frequently referred.
Ballard Locks are situated in the Ballard neighborhood in
Seattle. Apart from the locks, Ballard is also known for its Scandinavian
inheritance. Many Scandinavians came to Ballard to settle and fish salmon and
work in the milling industry. Ballard has several Scandinavian food stores and
bakeries, although some has closed since the recession in 2008. The Nordic
Heritage Museum is located here, and Ballard still celebrates the Norwegian
Constitution Day (May 17).
The locks were built in the beginning of the 1900s and named
after one of Seattle’s district engineers.
Hiram M. Chittenden:
The locks are being built:
The locks are ready for boats and fish:
The three main purposes of the locks are:
- To maintain the fresh water level at 20-22 feet above the sea water level.
- To prevent the mixing of sea water from the ocean and fresh water of the lakes.
- To move boats between the ocean and the lakes in Seattle.
What I found most interesting is the fish ladder. The fish
ladder is built for the pacific salmon. This salmon hatch in lakes, rivers, and
streams, migrate to sea, and then return to fresh water to spawn at the end of
their life. Can you imagine what a challenge it must be for a fish to go from
fresh water to sea water and then back again. The fish ladder serves the
purpose of helping the fish to adjust to the change of water.
If you want more information about locks, see Ballard Locks.
Ballard Locks also has a Visitors Center with an exhibition
and a store, and you go for a pleasant stroll or have a picnic in the botanical
garden within the locks surroundings.
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