Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun were symbolically “married” on July 5, 1911, after dredging was finished on the canal and lagoon between them, in a celebration called “Linking of the Lakes Day.” A golden loving cup joined water from the two lakes, and that evening a water parade on Lake of the Isles called the “Ships of All Ages Parade” drew over 100,000 people, with two hundred decorated canoes and rowboats representing ancient water craft. The occasion was seen as an important step in the growth and beautification of Minneapolis and was marked by a week-long citywide celebration featuring musical events, parades, and pageants at places including the lakes, The Parade, Nicollet Avenue, and Minnehaha Park. This linking was the first step in creating the navigable Chain of Lakes connecting Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, and Lake Calhoun. Over 24 years beginning in 1907, more than 6.4 million cubic yards of material were dredged from the Chain of Lakes, Lake Nokomis, and Powderhorn Lake to smooth shorelines, deepen lakes, and create more land for paths and roads. That work also eliminated wetlands once viewed as unhealthy, though they are now understood to protect and clean lake water, and several wetlands near the lakes have since been restored. In a 2007 survey, Chain of Lakes Regional Park ranked as the 16th most visited U.S. city park, with 5.5 million visits.