Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a 80-kilometer waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing ships to pass through one of the narrowest points of the American Continent. The canal uses a system of locks to raise and lower ships between sea level and the level of Gatun Lake, which is 26 meters above sea level. The canal is operated by the Panama Canal Authority and is an important route for international trade, with over 13,000 ships passing through it every year. The canal has a rich history, with the first attempt to build it beginning in 1880 by the French, and it was finally completed by the United States in 1914. The canal has undergone several expansions and modernizations, including the addition of a third set of locks, to increase its capacity and efficiency