Lake Union facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Union |
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Lake Union viewed from the north in 2012
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 Lake Union
Location in Washington (state)
Lake Union
Location in the United States
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| Location | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°38′21″N 122°20′01″W / 47.6392°N 122.3337°W |
| Native name | XáXu7cHoo Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Lake Washington Ship Canal |
| Primary outflows | Lake Washington Ship Canal |
| Catchment area | 571 square miles (1,480 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 580 acres (2.3 km2) |
| Average depth | 34 feet (10 m) |
| Max. depth | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Water volume | 20,000 acre-feet (25,000,000 m3) |
Lake Union is a freshwater lake found completely inside Seattle, Washington in the United States. It is a very important part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. This canal connects Lake Union to other bodies of water.
The eastern side of the lake is marked by the Ship Canal Bridge. This bridge carries Interstate 5 over the lake. It separates Lake Union from Portage Bay. The neighborhoods of Eastlake and Westlake are named after the lake. They are located on its east and west shores.
Gas Works Park is a famous park on the northern shore. The southern part of the lake is called the South Lake Union district. Here you can find Lake Union Park, the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), and the Center for Wooden Boats.
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The George Washington Memorial Bridge, also known as the Aurora Bridge, crosses the western part of Lake Union. This bridge carries Washington State Route 99. The westernmost point of Lake Union is the Fremont Cut. This is a narrow channel just west of the Aurora Bridge.
The Fremont Bridge crosses the Fremont Cut. It connects the neighborhoods of Fremont and Queen Anne. This bridge also separates Lake Union from the rest of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
Contents
History of Lake Union
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Lake Union is a glacial lake. This means it was formed by a huge sheet of ice called a glacier. About 12,000 years ago, the Vashon glacier dug out the basin for the lake. This same glacier also created Lake Washington and other Seattle lakes. These include Green Lake, Bitter Lake, and Haller Lake.
How Lake Union Got Its Name
Lake Union got its current name from Thomas Mercer. In 1854, he believed that canals would one day connect Lake Washington to Puget Sound. He called this idea a "union of waters."
The Duwamish are the native people of this area. They called Lake Union "Small Lake" or "Little Lake." In their language, Lushootseed, it was XáXu7cHoo or Ha-AH-Chu. This means "small great-amount-of-water." It was a smaller version of the name they used for Lake Washington. In Chinook, a trading language, it was called Tenas Chuck, meaning "small water."
Geography of Lake Union
Several Seattle neighborhoods are named after Lake Union. These include Eastlake, Westlake, Northlake, and South Lake Union.
Three main streets are also named for the lake. Westlake Avenue runs along the western shore. It goes from Downtown to the Fremont Bridge. Eastlake Avenue follows the eastern shore. It stretches from Cascade to the University District. Northlake Way runs along the northern shore. It passes Gas Works Park and goes to the edge of Fremont.
Industry Around Lake Union
The Boeing company started building airplanes on Lake Union in 1916. For many years, the shores of the lake were home to shipyards, docks, and sawmills. These industries were very important to the city's growth.
Recreation on Lake Union
Lake Union is a popular place for fun activities. This is because it is close to Seattle and has beautiful views. Seaplanes from Kenmore Air and Seattle Seaplanes land and take off from the lake all day.
Boats from Lake Washington travel through Lake Union to reach Puget Sound. The Center for Wooden Boats hosts a yearly festival for wooden boats. The famous Duck Dodge sailboat races happen on Lake Union every Tuesday in the summer. People also enjoy rowing, paddle boarding, and kayaking on the lake all year round.
Parks Around Lake Union
Gas Works Park is the biggest park on Lake Union. It is very popular with both Seattle residents and visitors. This park is a great spot for summer concerts. It also hosts Seattle's main Fourth of July fireworks show.
Other parks are located around the lake. Moving clockwise from Gas Works Park, you can find North Passage Point Park, South Passage Point Park, Fairview Park, Terry Pettus Park, and South Lake Union Park.
Floating Homes on Lake Union
Many unique Floating homes are built along the east and west sides of Lake Union. These are houses that float on the water. In the movie Sleepless in Seattle, the main character played by Tom Hanks lived in one of these floating homes.
Connections to Other Waters
Lake Union is part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal system. Water flows into Lake Union from Lake Washington through the Montlake Cut. It then flows out of Lake Union through the Fremont Cut. From there, the water continues on its way to Puget Sound. Before the canal was built, Lake Union flowed into Salmon Bay through a creek. This creek followed a path similar to today's Fremont Cut.
Salinity of Lake Union
Lake Union is connected to the saltwater of Puget Sound through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Because of this connection, some salt water mixes into the lake. This saltiness increases in the summer. During this time, less fresh water flows in from Lake Washington. Also, the locks open more often for boats, letting in more saltwater.
Competitive Rowing on Lake Union
Lake Union is a hub for several rowing centers and teams. These include Holy Names Academy Crew, Lake Union Crew, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and Pocock Rowing Center. All of these teams are part of USRowing. The Seattle Rowing Center and the Conibear Shellhouse also use nearby waters. They serve the Washington Huskies rowing team.
Seaplane Base on Lake Union
Lake Union is home to two seaplane bases. These are Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (IATA: LKE, FAA LID: W55) and Seattle Seaplanes (IATA: LKE, FAA LID: 0W0). They are located about one nautical mile (1.85 km) north of downtown Seattle.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Union para niños
