Day 214 : Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is one marvellous human creation, where a waterway route is created through one of the narrowest points of the Isthmus of Panama, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The interoceanic waterway uses a system of locks with two lanes that operates as water elevators and raises the ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake, 26 metres above sea level, to allow the crossing through the Continental Divide, and then lowers the ships to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus.

The water used to raise and lower the vessels in each set of locks is obtained from Gatun Lake by gravity and poured into the locks through a main culvert system that extends under the locks chambers from the sidewalls and the centre wall.

The boat passage requires one to go through 3 set of locks : Gatun Locks (between the Carribean Sea and Gatun Lake), Pedro Miguel Locks (between Gatun Lake and Miraflores Lake) and Miraflores Locks (between Miraflores Lake and Pacific Ocean).

Gatun Locks

I had the opportunity to watch it work in person at the Gatun Locks, which is extremely impressive - the water drain out of the locks, then the massively heavy looking doors slowly open up once the water has been drained, and subsequently the large vessels are pulled along the narrow section by mechanical vehicles on both side of the locks.

Ship waiting in Canal

Doors opening

Ship making its way

Exiting Canal

The creation goes back to the early 16th century when the Spaniards first arrived on the Isthmus to create a waterway, however, the first firm effort to build the all water route through Panama began with the French in 1880.

Unfortunately financial troubles and diseases made the initiative fail.  In 1903, Panama negotiated an agreement with the United States for the construction of the Canal and was completed on August 15 1914.

I was told that the original construction of the Canal was done by the Indians, but was later completed by Chinese immigrants.  

The U.S. subsequently took over the management of the waterway until 1999.  Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the Canal on December 31st 1999, and is now in the process of expanding the Canal.  It was expected to be completed in 2014, but as of recent days, I have heard that they are about 1 year behind schedule!

The completion of the expanded canal would allow bigger ships to transit through this route and allow for an increase in capacity, as well as savings in both time and money for the ships to be able to cut through the channel rather than travel around the continent of South America.