Big Fabricated Panama Canal

Long time before in 1534, Charles V, the ruler of Spain, thought of innovative to construct a shipping canal, connecting the Caribbean Ocean and American isthmus. But in 1880, proud to built the Suez Canal, French, Ferdinand de Lesseps, took over the work of the building a canal. But the construction turns out to be disastrous for French. It brought diseases and unfavorable conditions that took more than 22,000 lives and later French stopped the construction work in 1889. In 1904, US government took the project to build a canal, starting first by providing better shelter and all basic facilities for the laborers. On August 15 1914, the construction was completed and the first ship to traverse the canal was the Ancon and later more than thousand vessels of ships pass through the canal, making it the wonder of the world of engineers.

The canal’s control was passed on to the Republic of Panama. There are many ships trading through the canal, preventing many ships to take the long and dangerous route to the Cape Horn situated on the edge of South America. There are almost 14,000 ships passing through the Panama Canal including cruise-liners hauling passengers, enthusiastic tourists, boats ranging from pleasurable yachts to motor launches. The man made canal and engineers wonder is the tourists’ attraction where many people get around the canal to watch many sizes and shapes ships passing through the canal into the ocean. It’s provides a magnificent view for the tourists to just walk around or to relax or to jog in early morn that stretches to the Caribbean edge at Colon City, thus giving a peaceful feeling to many people.

Around the canal, there are many lakes and locks such as fabricated lake named Gatun and is the main source of water to forest and nearby areas. Another attraction around the canal is the Gaillard Cut, nine miles of fabricated valley made by the laborers. You should not miss out touring around into canal by a boat through natural Tropical River, wide jut out by lush vegetation.

It’s just amazing to see huge ships passing through the canal into the lush green vegetated mountains.

Miraflores is among three locks on the entrance of Pacific Ocean that is part of the Panama Canal and also a small lake that is separated by the upstream locks of Pedro Miguel. The modern visitor centre also allows seeing the operation of the locks. But best way to see the operations of the locks then rent a car and drive to the Gatun Locks, which was a former military base, near Colon.

At the Atlantic, Gatun locks are situated. These locks are very big. The process of the ships coming from the Caribbean side and wait for their turning a line. And one by after one, ships go through the 3 steps of locks and after each step the locks are closed: the water is filled to raise the ship, and then another ships comes  and then after and after that another and so on the process continues. At last, from the Lake Chagres you see ships moving out.

Middle of the Pacific, ahead down, Gamboa city is situated. From here, the ships depart the Lake Chagres and move on to Gaillard Cut. Going through the Gaillard Cut is the narrow and most difficult part as to create waterway most of the rock part of the mountain had to be chopped manually. Currently, only one ship at a time can go in one direction; however, work is in progress to broaden it.

Tocumen International Airport is the main airport at the Panama City, which is about 17 miles away.

Getting to the city:

The only transportation from the Panama City you will get is the cabs and minivans. You can book for it in the Information Booth. The cabs operate twenty four – seven. You can even rent cars from outside the arrival halls of Alamo, Barriga, Avis, National, Dollar, and much more.

Facilities:

On the departure level, you will find ATM and a bank. On the mezzanine, overlooking the departures, there is a coffee bar and restaurant and at the arrivals, you will get snack bars. The first and second floor of the airport has many shops if you wish to shop for something, which are duty free. Information booth is in arrivals and even to store your baggage facility is available.

Plus, there is an open space parking ahead of the terminal.

The Panama Canal is worth a visit to watch, as it was build like 100 years before without use of much technology. It is a great example of human efforts and planning, in short engineering. Since then, the facilities at the panama are also constantly improving.