Facts about the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal has a length of about 80 kilometers between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Built in one of the narrowest areas of the continent; this water route joins North and South America.

The Channel uses a system oflocks that are compartments with entrance and exist gates, which function as water lifts. Through the locks the ships are lifted from sea level (either Atlantic or Pacific) to the level of the Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level); this way, ships can sail through the channel of the Canal.

Each set of locks bears the name ofthe village where it was built: Gatun, located on the Atlantic side, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores, both in the Pacific.

The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun lake by gravity, and it's poured into the locks through a system of main culverts that extend below the chambers of the locks from the side walls and the central wall.

Construction for the new locks has already begun, this will allow much larger cargo and cruise ships to travel through the canal that have not been able to do due to their size.