Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as the Ballard Locks, is a complex of locks at the west end of Salmon Bay in Seattle, Washington's Lake Washington Ship Canal. The locks carry more boat traffic than any other lock in the U.S. and attract over one million visitors annually, making it one of Seattle's top tourist attractions. The construction of the locks profoundly reshaped the topography of Seattle and the surrounding area, lowering the water level of Lake Washington and Lake Union, adding miles of new waterfront land, and reversing the flow of rivers. The locks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have been designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Visitors can observe the fish ladder and the surrounding Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens, making it a great place to visit with family and friends