Green Lake (Seattle)
|
|
Green_Lake-1.jpg
WoodlandPark-1.jpg
Seattle-GreenLake.jpg
Green Lake is a freshwater lake in north central Seattle, Washington, USA, surrounded by the Green Lake neighborhood to the north and east, the Wallingford neighborhood to the south, the Phinney Ridge neighborhood to the west, and Woodland Park to the southwest. A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Bitter and Haller Lakes.
The lake has a surface area of 1 km²; its mean depth is 3.8 meters, and its maximum depth 9.1 meters. Green Lake lacks both surface water inflows and outflows--it once drained into Lake Washington via Ravenna Creek, but in 1911 it was lowered by 2.1 meters (7 feet) to create parkland, causing the creek to dry up between Green Lake and Cowen Park. It is fed by rainfall, storm runoff, and Seattle's municipal water supply.
Green Lake is surrounded entirely by a very popular paved path. The 4.5 kilometer path is divided into two lanes--one for pedestrians and one for bicycles, roller skates, and other wheeled unmotorized vehicles. The inner pedestrian lane is bidirectional, while the outer wheeled path is unidirectional (counterclockwise). The path is a major destination for people seeking exercise and can become quite crowded on days of fair weather. There is also an outer path along the edge of the park.
In the summer, Green Lake is also popular for swimming, sailboarding, pedal boats, rowboats, skiffs, and canoes. The surrounding Green Lake Park is a popular spot for qigong classes, roller hockey, soccer, and baseball.
Green Lake is a beacon for wildlife. Ducks, herons, geese, turtles, raccoons, wild rabbits, squirrels and bats are among the wildlife commonly viewed there. There is an island in the lake, known locally as Duck Island, which is off limits to people, creating a wildlife sanctuary.
Recently, a program has been implemented to substancially reduce the number of ducks and geese. Their droppings raise the level of phosphorus in the lake, leading to excessive growths of algae and milfoil. In 2003, the lake was treated with alum to encapsulate the phosphorus. A paddle boat, moored in the lake, is used to cut the milfoil. The fowl also leave pathogens in the lake which can cause swimmers itch. This shows the difficulity of maintaining water quality in a stagnant lake.
Fish also live in the lake. From time to time the lake is restocked.
External links
- City of Seattle Parks & Recreation (http://seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/greenlak.htm)