The Ballard Locks

by Adam Woog

Overview

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known locally as the Ballard Locks, are an integral part of Seattle's extensive waterways. The busiest facility of their kind in America, the Ballard Locks form the heart of the channel connecting Puget Sound's saltwater with Seattle's main freshwater lakes. When completed in 1917, the locks were second only in size to the Panama Canal and the first of their kind on the West Coast. They function primarily to maintain the lakes" levels and allow the movement of vessels between them and the sea. The Ballard Locks are among Seattle's top tourist attractions; more than one million people visit annually. They watch salmon and other fish migrate through the fish ladder, visit the botanical gardens, and watch the nonstop parade of ships—from working vessels to pleasure craft—as they rise and fall in the locks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738559179
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	09/22/2008
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,043,946
Product dimensions:	9.24(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.32(d)

About the Author

Adam Woog, a native Seattleite and lifelong visitor to the locks, has written dozens of books for children, young adults, and adults. He has a special interest in biography and history, and several of his books focus on Pacific Northwest topics. Most of the images he uses in this book are courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who built and maintain the locks.