Crossing the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the modern wonders of the world and a visit to our country, in particular
our capital would not be complete without visiting the Panama Canal and pay hommage to the great minds
that conceived it and the thousands of people from around the world that died building it. We will follow
the ship on each of the points marked on the map below.
1. Colon city
Out transit begins on the Atlantic coast at the city of Colon (formerly known as Aspinwall City) and
is the head of the Colon province. While the ship is outside the Canal
the pilot of the Canal aboards the ship and takes control. The ship then enters Limon Bay (Bahia Limon) and
goes past the breakwater en route towards the approach wall of the Gatun Locks. The tides on the Atlantic
side vary only a few feet (2) between high and low tides.
2. Gatun Locks
The Gatun Locks are located on the Atlantic side of the Canal. These locks are 33.5 meters wide,
305 meters long and on the average 26 meters deep. Here the ships goes over three pairs of concrete
chambers where the ship is gradually lifted from sea level to 26 meters above sea level.
In this process four to twelve special locomotives (mules) are used to carefully pull the ship in
the right direction.
For those interested there is a visitor center at Gatun Locks where you can comfortably watch the
crossing of ships. Going across from one side of the locks to the other with a car is also an interesting
experience you won't have in any of the other locks of the Panama Canal.
3. Gatun Lake
Having passed the Gatun Locks the ship is now sailing on the Gatun Lake. This lake is not natural, it
was created to make the canal possible. The ships passes the Gatun Dam on the west which is one of the
largest earth dams in the world. The map shown here (click to enlarge) shows the Old Railroad before the
canal was built and followed by adventurers during the California Gold Rush. You can compare it to a present
day map to see the extent of the flooding that was necessary to make this artificial lake.
Now the ships sails on towards Gamboa in some sort of channel that once was the valley of the
Chagres River, one of the largest rivers in Panama. As we mentioned, all this area was flooded to create
the lake and in some places you can still see tree stumps protruding from the water.
The point marked 4 is the former little town of Bohio Soldado which is now underwater. Number
5 was one of the old railroad stations along the isthmus.
6. Chagres River
Passing this point on the left side of the ship (transiting towards the Pacific) there is the birth
of the Chagres River which is one of the main providers of water for the Panama Canal. This river was
a cause of major concern and challenges for the original builders and architects of the concept of a
Panama Canal. One of the early americans investigating this route had proposed building a large
elevated viaduct to pass the ships without molesting the Chagres River.
Then the middle part of the Chagres is not seen because it is sunk underneath Gatun Lake. That is until
some part Northwest or Gatun were the river appears again and follows its sinous route toward the mouth
of the Chagres on the Atlantic coast. In fact that is also an interesting place because right in front
of it there are the ruins of the San Lorenzo fortress which was used in the times of the Spaniards to guard
the passage to Panama city. From the fortress you have a breathtaking view of the mouth of the mighty Chagres.
The point marked 7 is where the former hill of Bas Obispo was located. During the construction
of the canal in 1886 it had to be blown up to pieces.
8. Gaillard Cut (Corte Culebra)
Corte Culebra (as it is known today and its original name as well) is also known as Gaillard Cut. It
was named like that in honor of Mr. David du Boise Gaillard who was the engineer in charge of digging
this.
This is a very narrow passage, the narrowest in the whole traject that was dug out between Gold Hill
and Contractor's Hill and one of the most delicate (dangerous) places of the crossing. Even these days
there is constant work in this area as large dredgers have to remove tons of earth in order to keep
the area navigable and safe.
This was another of the major problems faced by the constructors of the Panama Canal because it was
at this point that the future canal had to make its way across the continental divide. Near Gaillard Cut
there is the newly built (2004) Centennial Bridge.
9. Pedro Miguel Locks
We now reach the Pedro Miguel Locks which are the intermediate locks in the transit of the canal. At
this point the ships are lowered in two sets of compartments from the level of the Gatun Lake down
to the Miraflores Lake.
There is no official visitor's center here given these are the smallest of the three. However there
is a parking area where you can park your car and observe the ships as they approach Pedro Miguel.
10. Miraflores Locks
Miraflores locks were completed in May 1913 and they are the ones that connect the Canal to the Pacific
Ocean. Here the ships are raised/lowered 13.5 meters to/from artificial Lake Miraflores to the
Pacific Ocean where the tides vary several meters.
At Miraflores Locks there is a large visitor's center. It was completely refurbished and enlarged
several years ago. Nowadays it not only has a deck where you can observe the ships from above as well as
ground level. It also has a restaurant, a complete museum and interactive exhibition and a theater.
After the construction of the canal the only way to cross the canal was either by a ferry or the
rotative bridge that can still be seen at Miraflores locks. Later that was replaced by the famous
Bridge of the Americas (12) which is where the Panamerican Highway crosses the americas
at its narrowest point.
Nowadays there is a new bridge (the Centennial Bridge) which is relieving the old Bridge of the
Americas, yet both are operational.
