Panama Canal

we have successfully cleared the Miraflores locks and head for the Miraflores Lake

in the Pedro Miguell lock we look up to the Morning Cicilie

Frigate birds do not need to be towed, they make a canal crossing within the hour

the Bridge of the Americas has a clearance at high tide of 60 meter. No problem for the Atlantic Queen

here comes the Bridge of the Americas

Panama City has an impressive skyline

these doors are 100 years old, but still going strong

two mastodons occupy the first of the Gatun Locks that will lower us 26 meters to the level of the Atlantic Ocean

sediments give Gatun Lake a yellow-brown color

the Canal was built by a railway company, so locomotives are used to tow ships into the locks

Plans for the Panama Canal go back to the 16th century when the conquistadors needed a safe and fast way to get the looted Inca gold and silver to the Atlantic side for shipping to Spain.

In the 19th century Ferdinand de Lesseps started a lockless Canal project, but malaria and yellow fewer brought it to a grinding halt. It would not have worked anyway because of large tidal difference between the Pacific and Atlantic.
The US took over and finished the Canal with locks in 1914.

The Canal features a total of 6 locks on both sides to raise the ships to Gatun Lake which sits 26 m above sealevel. The water of this rain filled artificial lake is used to operate the thirsty locks.

At the last day of the 20th century the US finally handed the Canal over to the Panama government.
Presently the Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world and a major source of income for Panama.
Recent droughts have sometimes limited the cargo for the largest ships.

Onboard the Pacific Queen we did a full transit from the Pacific to the Atlantic side in January 2009.

at 7 AM we board the Pacific Queen in Flaminco Marina south of Panama City for our Panama Canal crossing

here comes the pilot for today. Watch your step!

we approach the first of the 2 Miraflores locks that will lift us 18 meters

we cleared the third Gatun Lock, 26 meters below Gatun Lake. The Caribbean Sea is straight ahead

on the Culebra Cut we approach the Puente Centenario that since 2004 carries the Pan-American Highway