How well do you know Seattle?
Seattle sits between saltwater, lakes and mountains in the Pacific Northwest. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- The Fremont Troll, a giant concrete sculpture under the Aurora Bridge, was built in 1990. Its left hand crushes a real Volkswagen Beetle, and it has appeared in many films and TV shows.
- The Gum Wall in Post Alley near Pike Place Market is covered in thousands of pieces of chewed gum stuck there by visitors. The wall has been steam-cleaned, but people quickly cover it again.
- Boeing was founded in Seattle in 1916. The company's huge factory north of the city in Everett is one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, where wide-body jets are assembled.
A city between water and mountains
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. It sits on a narrow strip of land between Puget Sound, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, and Lake Washington. On clear days, snowy Mount Rainier rises to the southeast and the Olympic Mountains line the western horizon, making the city's setting one of the most striking in the country.
Gateway to the gold fields
When gold was discovered in Canada's Klondike region in 1896, Seattle became the main place for prospectors to buy supplies before heading north. The rush brought money and people and helped transform the town into a major city.
The 1962 World's Fair
The Century 21 Exposition gave Seattle the Space Needle, the monorail and the grounds that became Seattle Center. The monorail still runs between downtown and Seattle Center, taking about two minutes each way.
A working waterfront
Ferries cross Puget Sound from the downtown waterfront to nearby islands and peninsulas. Seattle's port handles cargo ships, fishing boats and cruise ships heading to Alaska.
Neighborhoods with character
Seattle's neighborhoods each have their own feel, from historic Pioneer Square to Ballard, with its Scandinavian fishing heritage, and quirky Fremont, which calls itself the Center of the Universe.
Salmon in the city
At the Ballard Locks, which connect Lake Washington and Lake Union to Puget Sound, a fish ladder helps salmon swim upstream. Visitors can watch them through underwater windows during summer runs.
Mild, gray weather
Seattle's winters are cool and cloudy, and its summers are usually dry and sunny. Snow is uncommon because the nearby ocean keeps temperatures mild, but when it does fall, the city's steep hills make driving tricky.
Coffee culture
Seattle is closely linked with coffee. Several well-known coffee companies started here, and the city is packed with independent cafés and small roasters. Many locals joke that the cool, gray days make a warm drink especially welcome for much of the year.