December 18 2014.(Late entry)
Panama Canal 101.
One of the man made "Wonders of the World".
I must say, visiting the Panama Canal interpretation Centre was very interesting. But a boat ride in the Canal itself, was the highlight of my trip.
Here is my 101 version of this amazing engineered structure, the Panama Canal. It's this canal, the one and only, that connects "two continents" the Atlantic and the Pacific.
All they did, more than an century ago......("all they did"....ya right), they've cut through a chain of mountains and created a large artificial lake that connects the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
It was mostly done by pic and shovel and the use of explosives of the first generation.
The canal, is an actual large lake ( only 50 miles long......), located 21 metres above sea level. With the use of 3 locks at each end, they use the force of gravity to fill and empty the locks, rising or lowering ships large and small to sea level. The Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. Et voila!
The Panama Canal operates year round, 24 hours a day. Generating billions of dollars into the Panama economy. (For us to sail the Winged Spirit across the the canal, it would take us about 8 hours and would cost $800.00 US.)
I have tried to include photos of the locks, and the canal in chronological order. Photos of vessels, buoys/ranges we encountered and the work being done on the expansion, to be completed in 2015.
Take a look!
THE LOCKS. (Photos of a Panamax going through the locks, these vessels are specially built to fit the canal, by length, width and depth. They are now building new "Super Panamax", made to fit the newly expended canal.)
THE LOCKS. Photos of a smaller vessel Going through the locks.
IN THE CANAL. Photos of our ride and vessels encountered on our tour in the actual canal.
BUOYS AND RANGES ( Did you say Red, Right, Return?)
NEW CANAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
