Since
1914, more than 900,000 vessels have transited through
the waterway bringing commerce, cultures and people
from all corners of the world closer together.
The Panama Canal tour starts with an early morning
pick up at our hotel in Panama City for a 15 minute
drive to the Port of Balboa in the Pacific side of
the canal, where we board a passenger ferry. We will
first sail under the bridge of the Americas, which
raises over 100 meters above sea level and reunites
the land divided during construction of the canal forming
another link in the Pan-American Highway. Breakfast
is available buffet style.
The Panama Canal is 80 kilometers long from deep waters
in the Pacific Ocean to deep waters in the Caribbean
Sea. It was cut through the lowest and one of the narrowest
saddles of the long mountainous Isthmus that joins
North and South America. The original elevation was
95 meters above sea level where it crosses the Continental
Divide.
Northbound
on the Panama Canal, the first stop is at Miraflores
locks, which are the tallest in the locks system
due to the extreme tidal variation of the Pacific
Ocean. The boat will be raised 17 meters above
sea level in two steps to enter Miraflores Lake
which is almost 2 kilometers long. A transition
from salt water in the Pacific Ocean to fresh
water in the locks chambers and lake take place
here. Next the ship is raised in one step, this
time an additional 9 meters, at the Pedro Miguel
locks. |
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At
this point the ship will be sailing in Gatun lake
at 26 meters above sea level
and entering Gaillard Cut, the narrowest section of
the Panama Canal. The 13.7-kilometer long portion of
the waterway was carved through rock and shale and
it is flanked by the backbones of the Continental Divide.
The original width of Gaillard Cut was 92 meters and
was increased to 152 meters in the early 1970s. In
order to accommodate to the demands of today's transit
needs, the Panama Canal Authority recently completed
the monumental task of widening
the Cut to 192 meters in straight sections and up to
222 meters in curves.
This allows for unrestricted two-way traffic of Panamax
vessels, the largest ships that fit in the Panama
Canal locks. Gaillard Cut opens up into Gatun Lake
where the Chagres River flows into the waterway near
the town of Gamboa, site of the Panama Canal's Dredging
Division. The Chagres River has the distinction of
being the only river in the world that flows into
two oceans and it is the main source of fresh water
which guarantees the operation of the waterway. Lunch
is served buffet style, while enjoying views of the
giant cranes and dredging equipment near Gamboa,
ships traveling southbound carrying cargo or passengers
and the islands that dot Gatun Lake.
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Half
way through the voyage in Gatun Lake you will
pass by Barro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute has been carrying
out research on rainforest biodiversity since
soon after this area was flooded and the lake
was formed. Gatun Lake covers an area of 423
square kilometers and the islands in it are actually
the tops of hills and mountains that were not
flooded.
Gatun
Lake was once the largest man-made lake in
the world. Just before reaching the Gatun
locks on the Caribbean side of the Panama
Canal you will see Gatun Dam. The locks at
Gatun will
lower the ship 26 meters to sea level in
three steps and the ship will continue along
a channel
to the Port of Cristobal.
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We
will disembark in Cristobal and board a coach bus
that will take us back to Balboa on a 1:30-hour comfortable
ride. In Balboa our Ancon Expeditions of Panama driver
will be waiting to take us back to your hotel.
WHAT
TO BRING: Binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen
lotion, light clothing, light raincoat, tennis shoes
or sandals. Cash in small denominations is suggested
if interested in purchasing souvenirs and beer.
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to Day Tours
