The Panama Canal - the canal now
28 October 2008
The Panama Canal is approximately 80 km long and joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was cut through one of narrowest parts of the isthmus that joins North and South America.
The Canal uses a system of locks - compartments with entrance and exit gates - that function as water lifts. They raise ships from sea level (the Pacific or the Atlantic) to the level of Gatun Lake (26 m above sea level). Ships then sail the channel through the Continental Divide.
Each set of locks bears the name of the town where it was built: Gatun (on the Atlantic side), and Pedro Miguel and Miraflores (on the Pacific side).
The lock chambers are 33.53 m wide and 304.8 m long. The maximum dimensions of ships that can pass through the Canal are: 32.3 m in beam; 12 m in draft in Tropical Fresh Water; and 294.1 m long.
The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun Lake by gravity. It enters the locks through a system of culverts that extend under the lock chambers from the sidewalls and the centre wall.
The narrowest part of the Canal is the Culebra Cut, which extends from the north end of the Pedro Miguel Locks to the southern edge of Gatun Lake at Gamboa. This section, which is about 13.7 km long, is carved through the rock and shale of the Continental Divide.
Almost 14 thousand vessels use the Canal every year. Commercial transportation activities through the Canal represent approximately 5% of the world trade.
The Canal has a work force of approximately 9000 and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
