Panama CanalPersonal travel impressions in stories and pictures from Panama Canal, Panama. Click on the pictures to enlarge, send as a free e-card, or download for personal use. You can locate Panama Canal and navigate the world using Google Earth Show on map
N 8° 59.760
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The most obvious visit in Panama leads of course to the Panama Canal. And this is exactly the excursion I made on the first day in Panama. I will not elaborate on all the figures that can be given on the canal. I will also not mention its long history. I will just concentrate on what I saw while there.
First of all, when I visited the Canal, it's operation was still in U.S. hands. Preparations for the handover in 2000 were under way. And while standing at one of the locks, it dawned on me what an incredible task it must have been to even think the Canal. let alone to carry out its construction. It is a major feat that ships cross a low mountain range from the level of one ocean to the other. And this is in fact what happens. Separated by various locks, boats climb from lake to lake until they reach the highest level of the canal, then only to descend to the end of it.
Standing at the side of one of the locks, it was an impressive sight to see a huge ship being guided into the lock, then to see the massive ship rise while the lock was filled. Just after entering the lock, the ships were visible from above, and it was only after they rose to the height of the adjoining canal that I could appreciate the real height of the ship. Truly majestic!
