Bitter Lake (Seattle) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bitter Lake |
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 Bitter Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Bitter Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northwest Seattle, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°43′36″N 122°21′08″W / 47.72667°N 122.35222°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 19 acres (7.7 ha) |
| Average depth | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Max. depth | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
Bitter Lake is a small lake located in northwest Seattle, Washington, USA. It's a cool spot in the city with an interesting history and a local legend!
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Discovering Bitter Lake
Bitter Lake covers about 19 acres, which is like 14 football fields! It's not super deep, with an average depth of 16 feet. At its deepest point, it goes down to 31 feet.
How Bitter Lake Got Its Name
For a long time, until 1913, there was a sawmill right by the lake. Workers would put logs into the water. These logs released something called tannic acid. This acid made the lake water taste a bit bitter. That's how the lake got its unique name!
The Duwamish people, who lived here first, had a different name for the lake. They called it "cHálqWadee" in their language, Lushootseed. This means "Blackcaps on the Sides." It was named after the blackcap plants that grew all around the lake's edges.
How the Lake Was Formed
Bitter Lake is a glacial lake. This means it was carved out by huge sheets of ice! About 15,000 years ago, a massive ice sheet called the Puget Lobe dug out the lake's basin. This same ice sheet also helped create other famous lakes nearby. These include Lake Washington, Lake Union, Green Lake, and Haller Lake.
The Bitter Monster Legend
Have you heard of the Bitter Monster? It's a local myth about a snake-like sea monster. People have rumored that this creature lives in Bitter Lake. However, there's no proof that the Bitter Monster is real. No one has ever found any physical evidence of such a creature. This means no hair, no tracks, and no tissue has ever been discovered. It remains a fun story!
Bitter Lake's History and Location
In 1906, a special streetcar line reached the lake. This line connected Seattle to Everett. The area around the lake, known as the Bitter Lake neighborhood, became part of Seattle in 1954.
Where to Find Bitter Lake
The lake is easy to find in Seattle. It's located between Greenwood Avenue North on the west side and Linden Avenue North on the east. To the north, you'll find North 137th Street. To the south, it's North 130th Street. Water from Bitter Lake flows out from its southeast end through a pipe. This water eventually makes its way to Lake Union.
