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About Lake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake completely within the Seattle, Washington city
limits.
Origins
A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which
also created Lake Washington, and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.
Recreation
Lake Union's proximity to and scenic views of Seattle make it a popular
recreational spot. Kayaking is popular in the warmer months. Seaplanes operated
by Kenmore Air land on and take off from the lake several times a day during the
summer. Pleasure boats from Lake Washington pass through on their way to Puget
Sound. The Center for Wooden Boats holds a yearly tall ship festival.
Parks
Gas Works Park is the largest park on Lake Union and the most popular for
Seattleites and visitors. It's the venue for summer concerts and one of the two
major Fourth of July fireworks shows in Seattle. Other parks ring the lake,
starting at Gas Works and going clockwise: North Passage Point Park, South
Passage Point Park, Fairview Park, Terry Pettus Park, South Lake Union Park.
Seaplanes
Lake Union is host to many seaplanes, especially those of Kenmore Air.
Houseboats
Picturesque houseboats line the east and west sides of Lake Union. In Sleepless
in Seattle, the character played by Tom Hanks lived on one of these boats. [1]
Connections to other bodies of water
Part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal system, water flows into the lake from
Lake Washington through the Montlake Cut, and out via Fremont Cut on its way to
Puget Sound. Before construction of the canal, Lake Union emptied into Salmon
Bay via a creek which followed roughly the same course as the Fremont Cut does
today.
Salinity
Because of the connection via the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to the salt water of
Puget Sound, there is some saline contamination, which worsens in the summer as
the inflow rate from Lake Washington decreases and the locks open more
frequently for pleasure craft.
Geography
Three major streets are named in relation to the lake: Westlake Avenue, which
runs along its western shore from Downtown to the Fremont Bridge; Eastlake
Avenue, which runs along its eastern shore from Cascade to the University
District, and Northlake Way, which runs along its northern shore from the
University District past Gas Works Park to the edge of Fremont.
Several neighborhoods take their name from the lake: Eastlake, Westlake,
Northlake, South Lake Union (not Southlake), and Montlake.