Evergreen, Royal, Emerald - these are all unofficial names for Seattle. The USA - the country where Seattle is located, boasts huge megacities. It would seem that against their background a tiny town, in which only 700 thousand people live, is simply lost. However, it is one of the most paradoxical cities of North America.
Geography and climate
The port city is located on the northwest coast of the country, in the state of Washington. He occupied a strip of land between the lake and the bay. The terrain is hilly, and the Olympic mountains rise nearby, which do not protect the city from rains. Seattle has a maritime climate on the coast . Winters are usually mild and summers are cool. Due to heavy rainfall, Seattle was called the city of rains.
History of the city
A group of the first European settlers led by Arthur Danny set foot on these lands in 1851. Apparently, they had serious ambitions, since the settlement received the proud name “New York Alki” - “Future New York”. A few years later, in honor of the leader of the local tribes, he was renamed Seattle. Under this name, he went down in history.
The extraction of wood gave a powerful start to the development of Seattle, and very soon it grew into a small city. But two difficulties arose. The first is quite predictable: wooden houses were defenseless before fires. The second was poor sewage. During high tides, all sewage rose upward and poured out of the toilets. Then the city was literally buried in the mud. Radical measures were required. The impetus for them was a strong fire at the end of the XIX century. None of the residents were injured, but almost 25 blocks were burned to the ground.
The authorities decided to raise the city to the second floor, and on the first to make a normal sewer. Moreover, they began to build houses out of stone in order to avoid the threat of fires. Initially, residents moved between floors on steep stairs. Unfortunately, there were some accidents, so it was decided to close the entrance to the first level. So where is the city of Seattle? Right, in downtown Seattle.
City features
In the city center, tourists get the impression that they were transported to a metropolis with skyscrapers. But it is worth going a little further, as a quiet private sector begins. However, even in the central part it is always calm and quiet.
At first glance, the region where Seattle is located does not stand out. There are many cities in the USA with skyscrapers and marinas. A large-scale reconstruction led to the fact that there are practically no historical buildings. But the inhabitants did not want to live in a boring gray city, and they themselves began to decorate it. Creative art objects overwhelm Seattle. A metal tree “grows” in the park, a nosed troll “settled” under the bridge, a rocket is about to “start” from the roof of one of the houses, and tired waiting people will not “wait” for transport at the stop. And this is not counting the many figures of a strange shape.
Space needle
The hallmark of the northwestern coast of the United States, where Seattle is located, is the Space Needle Tower, or Space Needle. It resembles a huge flying saucer that landed comfortably on the roof of a building. It was built specifically for the international exhibition in 1962. The author of the idea is Edward Carlson.
The height of the tower is more than 180 meters. It is not surprising that at the level of 159 meters there is an observation deck where 3 elevators lift visitors. From here you can see not only the city, but also the sleeping volcano Rainier, beloved by the locals. A few meters below is the restaurant. Seattle, where the Space Needle is located, will surprise (perhaps scare) guests. Only from the tower you can see the famous illusion created by Marlin Petterson. On the roof of one of the buildings, he painted two giant spiders that look like alive. It seems that they hid, looking for another victim, and about to pounce on passers-by.
Farmers market
Seattle, where so many unusual sights are located, has another asset. The City Life Center is centered on America’s largest farmers market. Its dimensions are huge, and the tourist alone can not figure it out alone. A gastroguide will come to the rescue. He will talk about local cuisine, advise on the best treats (and Seafood is very popular in Seattle), and take him to the necessary stalls or snack bars without waiting in line. By the way, here you will be offered to play a fun game: throw fish. This is a kind of "fish volleyball." Where did such entertainment come from? Just the sellers were too lazy to constantly go around the shelves.
Some more interesting facts
- Amazing landscapes begin just 1 km from the city. Emerald Lakes, which gave Seattle a poetic unofficial name, wild forests, waterfalls, and, of course, Mount Rainier. A sleeping volcano is covered in snow all year round. Locals willingly spend time here.
- Tourists will be interested in the glass museum. It features glass plants of bizarre shapes. The idea belongs to the master Dale Chihuly, whose works adorn museums around the world.
- There is a whole town of houseboats on Lake Union. They are used as hotels. Houseboats moored to the shore, like real ships. Moreover, housing here is considered the most elite in the city.
- The country where Seattle is located has much to be proud of. The small town has gathered amazing sights, which largely compensates for the lack of ancient buildings. Everything here is new and bright.