Ballard Locks

John McGraw stands at the busy intersection of 5th, Steward, and Westlake. He always faces the trolley station, officially Seattle Street Car. No doubt riders and tourist would walk up and study the inscription on the pedestal on which he stands. They would learns that this is the statue of the second governor of Washington State in late 1890s. In addition to side with Chinese against vigilantes who tried to deport them, he also advocated for the construction of Ballard Locks that connects Lake Washington to the Pacific Ocean.

Officially Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, this complex engineering project started operating in 1917. For 94 years, it allows ships to go out to the ocean for business and come back for clam protection. It has a fish ladder on the side to allow salmon to swim up back to spawn. The time to watch salmon will be from July to October, September at the peak. The lock engineers designed the attraction water &dmash; swift flow mixed with seawater against the fish — so that salmon will find the ladder. The fish gradually turn red when they are in the freshwater. Once up the streams, they lay thousands of eggs and died soon after. Seals and other predators learned to feast here; there are so many fish that it seems you can walk across the water.

Watching the boats going in and out the locks are fun too. Once in the locks, water rises or falls so quickly. Then the gates open and everything is fine. It is the elevators for boats.

Lockspot Cafe is an old fish and chips place right outside the entrance. Not bad if you are in the mood for Locks memories. Otherwise, venture into Ballard for more refined restaurants.

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