Aerial view of Ballard Locks

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, commonly called the Ballard Locks, are a crucial waterway system in Seattle, linking the saltwater of Puget Sound with the freshwater of Lake Washington and Lake Union. They support boat traffic and attract numerous visitors. Shipping canal locks are a system used to raise and lower boats between stretches of water at different elevations. They work by creating a controlled chamber where water levels can be adjusted to match the level of the waterway a vessel is entering.