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Ballard Locks
The Ballard Locks are pretty amazing, although they're not all that different than the lift locks that I grew up around in Trenton, Ontario on the Trent Canal except in scale. The operating principle is the same.
One key difference is that these locks connect the salt water of Elliot Bay with the fresh water of Lake Washington. This is salmon territory, and the US Army Corp of Engineers has taken special measures to protect habitat. These white pipes simulate a waterfall for the benefit of the fish.
An interesting side note is that the water pressure being released from the locks is used to power a series of sprinklers. These sprinklers spray out over the lower portion of the lock, and are prevent the seagulls from making a permanent home there.
