Panama Canal Map

Description:

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The Panama Canal is an artificial 82-kilometer (51-mile) waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean through the Isthmus of Panama. This engineering marvel, completed in 1914, revolutionized maritime trade by eliminating the need for ships to navigate around South America, reducing travel time and costs significantly. The canal operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, handling approximately 5% of world maritime commerce.

The canal's construction was initially attempted by the French in 1881 but failed due to engineering problems and high mortality rates among workers from yellow fever and malaria. The United States took over the project in 1904 after supporting Panama's independence from Colombia. Under American leadership, the canal was completed in 1914 at a cost of $375 million, making it the most expensive construction project in U.S. history at that time. During its construction, over 25,000 workers lost their lives, primarily due to diseases and accidents.

The canal system consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. The main artificial lake, Gatun Lake, was created by building the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. Ships passing through the canal are raised up to 85 feet above sea level using a system of locks, which work entirely by gravity and use no pumps. Each lock chamber requires approximately 52 million gallons of water to fill.

In 2016, the canal underwent a major expansion project that added a new set of locks, allowing for larger vessels known as New Panamax ships to pass through. These ships can carry up to 14,000 containers, compared to the 5,000 container capacity of ships that could use the original locks. The expansion project cost approximately $5.25 billion and doubled the canal's capacity.

Control of the canal was transferred from the United States to Panama on December 31, 1999, following the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Today, the canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), a Panamanian government agency. The canal generates significant revenue for Panama, with annual earnings exceeding $2 billion. Transit fees are based on vessel size, type, and cargo, with some ships paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single passage. The average transit time through the canal is 8 to 10 hours, and approximately 13,000 vessels pass through annually.

The Facts:
Length: 82 km (51 miles).
Maximum boat length: 366 m (1,200 ft 9 in).
Maximum boat beam: 49 m (160 ft 9 in).
Maximum boat draft: 15.2 m (50 ft).
Maximum boat air draft: 57.91 m (190.0 ft).
Start point: Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean).
End point: Pacific Ocean.