The PanamaCanal (Spanish: Canal de Panamá) is an artificial 82-kilometer (51-mile) waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a conduit for maritime trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The Panama Canal is a constructed waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across the Isthmus of Panama. It is owned and administered by Panama, and it is 40 miles long from shoreline to shoreline. Ships can cross going in either direction, and it takes about 10 hours to get from one side to the other. Ships from any country are treated equally with respect to conditions of passage and tolls.Why is the Panama Canal important?Before the Panama Canal was built, ships traveling between the east and west coasts of the American continents had to go around Cape Horn in South America, a voyage that was some 8,000 nautical miles longer then going through the canal and that took about two months to complete. All journeys between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are shortened by thousands of nautical miles by going through the canal.How was the Panama Canal made?The Panama Canal was made by building dams on the Chagres River to create Gatun Lake and Lake Madden, digging the Gaillard Cut from the river between the two lakes and over the Continental Divide, building locks between the Atlantic Ocean and Gatun Lake to lift boats to the lake and another set of locks at the end of the Gaillard Cut to lower ships, and digging a channel to the Pacific Ocean.Why does the Panama Canal need locks?See full list on britannica.comThe Panama Canal lies at a latitude of 9° N, at a point where the North American Continental Divide dips to one of its lowest points. The canal does not, as is generally supposed, cross the isthmus from east to west. It runs due south from its entrance at Colón on the Atlantic side through the Gatún Locks to a point in the widest portion of Gatún Lake; it then turns sharply toward the east and follows a course generally to the southeast until it reaches the Bay of Panama, on the Pacific side. Its terminus near Balboa is some 25 miles (40 km) east of its terminus near Colón. Parallel to the canal are the Panama Canal Railway and the Boyd-Roosevelt Highway.In passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, vessels enter the approach channel in Limón Bay, which extends a distance of about 7 miles (11 km) to the Gatún Locks. At Gatún a series of three locks lifts vessels 85 feet (26 metres) to Gatún Lake. The lake, formed by Gatún Dam on the Chagres River and supplemented by waters from Alajuela Lake (Lake Madden; formed by the Madden Dam), covers an area of 166 square miles (430 square km). The channel through the lake varies in depth from 46 to 85 feet (14 to 26 metres) and extends for about 23 miles (37 km) to Gamboa. Gaillard (Culebra) Cut begins at Gamboa and passes through the Continental Divide. The channel through the cut has an average depth of about 43 feet (13 metres) and extends some 8 miles (13 km) to the Pedro Miguel Locks. The locks lower vessels 30 feet (9 metres) to Miraflores Lake, at an elevation of 52 feet (16 metres) above sea level. Vessels then pass through a channel almost 1.2 miles (2 km) long to the two-stepped locks at Miraflores, where they are lowered to sea level. The final segment of the canal is a dredged approach passage 7 miles long through which ships pass into the Pacific. Throughout its length the canal has a minimum bottom width of 500 feet (150 metres); in Gatún Lake the width of the channel varies between 500 and 1,000 feet (150 and 300 metres), and in Miraflores Lake the width is 740 feet (225 metres).Britannica QuizWater and its Varying FormsSee full list on britannica.com The Panama Canal is an 82-kilometer (51-mile) waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Learn about its history, operation, expansion, and facts on this map. · The PanamaCanal is run by a state-owned enterprise, the PanamaCanal Authority. China is the Canal’s number-two user, and a Chinese company has operated ports at either end of the Canal since 1997. · Learn how long it takes to get through the Panama Canal, how much it costs, and what to expect during the transit. The canal is 82 km (51 mi) long and has three locks that raise and lower ships between sea level and Gatun Lake. · Seemingly not grasping the lessons from the French effort, the Americans devised plans for a sea-level canal along the roughly 50-mile stretch from Colón to Panama City. How long does it take to cross the Panama Canal?The full Panama Canal crossing takes an average of 8 to 10 hours. The time spent passing through the locks themselves is around 2 to 3 hours. How much faster is it to use the Panama Canal? The Panama Canal can save ships a significant amount of time compared to sailing around the southern tip of South America.How many locks are in the Panama Canal?The Panama Canal has three locks on each side of the canal: Gatun Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks, and Miraflores Locks. Each lock chamber is 110 feet wide by 1,000 feet long, with a depth of 85 feet. The locks operate by filling and draining the chambers with water to raise and lower the vessels between sea level and the level of Gatun Lake.How long is the Panama Canal?Nearby is Panama City. From this harbor an entrance/exit channel leads to the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Panama), 13.3 km (8 + 1⁄4 mi) from the Miraflores Locks, passing under the Bridge of the Americas. Thus, the total length of the canal is 80 km (50 mi).What are some interesting facts about the Panama Canal?The Panama Canal is an engineering feat. It’s 50 miles long and links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting down on ship travel distances. Here are some facts about this canal: Varying from thousands to millions per transit. The Panama Canal also has interesting features. · The PanamaCanal is an engineering feat. It’s 50 miles long and links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting down on ship travel distances. Here are some facts about this canal: ... The PanamaCanal also has interesting features. Its locks use gravity-fed water to lift and lower ships, enabling them to cross the isthmus of Panama. The Panama Canal is an 82-kilometer (51-mile) waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Learn about its history, operation, expansion, and facts on this map. · The PanamaCanal is run by a state-owned enterprise, the PanamaCanal Authority. China is the Canal’s number-two user, and a Chinese company has operated ports at either end of the Canal since 1997. · Learn how long it takes to get through the Panama Canal, how much it costs, and what to expect during the transit. The canal is 82 km (51 mi) long and has three locks that raise and lower ships between sea level and Gatun Lake. · Seemingly not grasping the lessons from the French effort, the Americans devised plans for a sea-level canal along the roughly 50-mile stretch from Colón to Panama City. · The PanamaCanal is an engineering feat. It’s 50 miles long and links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting down on ship travel distances. Here are some facts about this canal: ... The PanamaCanal also has interesting features. Its locks use gravity-fed water to lift and lower ships, enabling them to cross the isthmus of Panama.
