Watch giant ships move through the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, an 80km (50 mile) international shipping waterway between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, epitomized the era of engineering. Unlike the Suez Canal, which is fully at sea level, the Panama Canal raises and lowers ships across the continental divide using a series of massive, mechanical locks. The canal is a must-see for first-time visitors to Panama, and there are various ways to get up up and personal with the excitement. Miraflores, located just outside of Panama City, is the most popular of the canal's locks, as it is dependable and simple to access.
On the Caribbean side, Gatn receives fewer tourists but has a larger three-step lock mechanism. However, if you want to view the canal at its finest, go to Agua Clara locks, which are also on the Caribbean side. The locks, which were completed in 2016, were meant to accommodate a new generation of massive container ships known as "Neo-Panamax" ships, which have double the capacity of prior boats.
One feature that distinguishes Panama from other countries is the existence of this technical marvel that was much ahead of its time. In reality, this structure has altered ship transportation not only in Panama, but around the world. The magnificent Panama Canal accomplished this with a Miraflores lock operation. Visitors from all around the world may take in the realistic spectacle of massive ships going through the locks.
Location: Isthmus of Panama
