We could actually see ships lined up to pass through the Canal from the balcony of our room, which was cool - but didn't hold a candle to seeing it all up close.
Quite early the second morning we were in Panama, we headed to the harbor to actually pass through the Canal on a tourist ferry.
The boat in the back is the ferry we were on.
The skyline of Panama City is very modern.
(The building on the right with the arch on top is the Trump Tower in Panama.)
(The building on the right with the arch on top is the Trump Tower in Panama.)
This is the famous biomuseum designed by Frank Gehry.
(We did not tour it.)
This is the Bridge of the America's. It crosses over near the beginning of the Canal if you are traveling from Pacific to Atlantic.
These huge cranes unload containers from ships.
Ships schedule their passage through the Canal one to two years in advance. The smaller boats, like out tourist ferry, are slipped in behind the large ships as works best. When we scheduled our tour (a day in advance) they were not sure what time our tour would begin because they were waiting for the Canal to let them know which ship our ferry would fit behind. Filling each lock to capacity allows for the most efficient use possible of the Canal.
In this series of photos we are getting lined up to enter the first lock. We followed the yellow ship. If you look in the background there is a red/rust ship lifted up in the lock we would soon enter.
The original Canal was completed in about 1914. The engineering is simply amazing. The water fills the locks (water elevators) by gravity flow. There have never been pumps. Other than daily maintenance, the original Canal has been largely unchanged. The idea that a system that was designed in the early 1900s is still operating so successfully is mind boggling.
The Canal runs like clockwork. Ships enter and leave the Canal 24 hours a day. 356 days a year. Since it opened in 1914 it has only been shut down 2 or 3 times. Each of those closures lasted less than 24 hours. (It was closed once when the US was arresting Noriega, and once or twice for weather.)
Our spot was behind the yellow ship, next to the ferry.
The Panama Canal takes full responsibility for everything that happens in the Canal. Each ship that passes through allows a Canal Operator aboard their ship to pilot it through the Canal. Any damage that happens to the ship or to the Canal System is the responsibility of the Canal. Likewise, there is a penalty system in which the Canal pays damages if a ship passes through behind the agreed upon schedule.
The Canal consists of 6 locks. We did a partial transit, so we went through three locks. Three go up, three go down. In the center there is a man-made lake, Lake Gatun. There is an 85 foot change in elevation from sea level to the lake and then back down to sea level. Each lock raises or lowers about 28 feet. The above photo was taken just as the gates closed on the first lock.
Water rushes into the lock and fills it at an amazing rate. You can visibly see the water churn and rise. It only takes about 8 minutes for the lock to fill to capacity.
In no time our ships were lifted to the next level.
Here we are looking back over the gates we had passed through only a few minutes earlier.
This is the final lock we passed through. Watching the massive gates close fascinated me.
And just like that, we had risen 85 feet.
What a crazy, amazing engineering feat it is!
These electric engines are called mules. They hold the ships steady in the lock and pull them forward and through.
Looking over it all, one last time.
This shows just a bit of the terracing that had to happen to create the Canal.
Although you can't really see it in any of my photos, a third set of locks were opened just a year ago. They are larger and allow the largest modern ships to pass. Construction cost 8 billion dollars - however they expect it to be paid for in just two years based on passage fares. (The largest ship to ever pass through the Canal paid just under a million dollars. The average cruise ships pays nearly $500,000 to pass through.) It is BIG business.
The US "owned" the Canal until December 31, 1999 when Panama took it over. Since it has been run by Panama, the country has invested much in infrastructure. It seemed as though every road we traveled and all the skyscrapers guides pointed out had been built since 2000. The Canal has next to NO security. Guides claim it will not be attacked because it would harm all and benefit few to have it destroyed.
Another interesting tid-bit is that part of the treaty handing the Canal over to Panama stated that all Canal workers must be paid the current federal minimum wage in America. Since the current minimum wage in Panama is $500 a month, Canal jobs are very good paying and sought after.
This is the Centennial Bridge. It was beautiful.
These next photos show the Canal pilots leaving the big yellow ship we followed through the Canal.
Passing under the Centennial Bridge.
I'm not sure why there is a sign that welcomes you to the Canal in the middle of the Canal?!?
The size of some of the ships we saw unbelievable. This one holds over 4000 cars.
This container ship was ginormous. I had a very hard time getting it into one frame of my camera.
Check out the "tiny" life boat. I would NEVER want to be stuck in one of those.
Passing through half of the Canal took about 4.5 hours. I am so glad we had the experience. It is something I will never forget.
To top off our day at the Canal, Chief (our building supplier that organized the trip) rented out the entire museum at the Miraflores Locks - the second locks we passed through - for members of their President's Club. We were given a private tour and then served dinner on the top of the building.
This is a Canal side view of the museum that I snapped earlier in the day when we passed through. As you can see, it is typically a very popular tourist destination. That top deck - that is filled - with people is where we dined.
There is the proof.
Interestingly, the Canal was raising and lowering ships through the locks the whole time we were there - but the operation is nearly silent. Unless you were standing at the railing watching the action, you would never know where you were.
It was truly an amazing day.
If you ever get the chance - go see the Canal. I thought when in Panama. . . and so I went. BUT I am SOOOOOO humbly grateful I had this opportunity. It was totally unforgettable.
