Lake Union
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Lake Union | ||
---|---|---|
x̌ax̌čuʔ ( Primary inflows Lake Washington Ship Canal | (Portage Bay from Montlake Cut) | |
Primary outflows | Lake Washington Ship Canal (Fremont Cut to Salmon Bay) | |
Catchment area | 571 square miles (1,480 km2)[2] | |
Basin countries | United States | |
Surface area | 580 acres (2.3 km2)[2] | |
Average depth | 34 feet (10 m)[2] | |
Max. depth | 50 feet (15 m)[2] | |
Water volume | 20,000 acre-feet (25,000,000 m3)[2] |
Lake Union (
The Aurora Bridge (officially the George Washington Memorial Bridge) carries State Route 99 over the western arm of Lake Union. The Aurora Bridge is so named because it carries Aurora Ave N down the western side of the lake. Lake Union's westernmost point can be considered the Fremont Cut, which is located just west of the Aurora Bridge and is spanned by the Fremont Bridge. The Fremont Bridge carries Fremont Ave N between the neighborhoods of Fremont and Queen Anne and separates Lake Union from the rest of the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the west.
History
A
Name
In Lushootseed, the lake is known as x̌ax̌čuʔ, meaning "small lake."[3] It is the diminutive form of the name of Lake Washington, x̌ačuʔ.[4]
In Chinook Jargon, the trade language primarily used in the 19th century, it is called Tenas Chuck ("small water").[5]
Lake Union received its present name from Thomas Mercer, who in 1854 correctly predicted that canals would someday join Lake Washington to Puget Sound in a "union of waters."[6]
Geography
Several Seattle neighborhoods take their name from the lake:
Industry
Boeing began production on Lake Union in 1916, there had a hangar assembled the company's first product B & W Seaplane.[7] Shipyards, wharfs, and sawmills have also dotted the shore.
Recreation
Lake Union's proximity to and scenic views of the central Seattle and University District skylines make it a popular recreational spot. Seaplanes operated by Kenmore Air and Seattle Seaplanes land and take off from the lake throughout the day. Pleasure boats from Lake Washington pass through on their way to Puget Sound. The Center for Wooden Boats holds a yearly wooden boat festival, while the annual Seattle Boat Show at the end of January demonstrates seacraft for sale on actual waters, in addition to its displays in the concourse of Lumen Field. The world-famous Duck Dodge sailboat races are run on Lake Union each Tuesday during the summer. Rowers in sweep and sculling boats use the lake year-round. Paddle boarding and kayaking are also popular on this lake.
Parks
Floating homes
Connections to other bodies of water
Part of the
Salinity
Because of the connection via the
Competitive rowing
Lake Union is home to several rowing centers and teams, including Holy Names Academy Crew, Lake Union Crew, Lake Washington Rowing Club and Pocock Rowing Center, all members of USRowing. Also rowing out of bodies of water attached to Lake Union are the Seattle Rowing Center and the Conibear Shellhouse, serving the Washington Huskies.
Seaplane base
Lake Union is home to two seaplane bases: Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (IATA: LKE, FAA LID: W55), and Seattle Seaplanes (FAA LID: 0W0), located one nautical mile (1.85 km) north of the central business district of Seattle.
Notes
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Union
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lake Union". King County. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ a b "The Waterlines Project Map" (PDF). The Burke Museum. 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-295-98700-2.
- ^ "Living Lightly, Duwamish Tribe on Lake Union". www.lakeunionhistory.org. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ISBN 0-295-95158-3.
- ^ "Boeing's Lake Union Seaplane Hangar". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ PacificNorthwestMovies.com Archived 2005-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, Sleepless in Seattle
External links
- Media related to Lake Union at Wikimedia Commons