Traffic in the Canal

Workshop Area

Road Bridge across the River Chagres

This river supplies water required to operate the canal. It's fed from the rain forest and spills into Gatun Lake, formed by damming the Chagres River. The lake forms part of the Canal waterway and is essentially the Canal's water supply.

Work boat

Dredger at work

Heading toward the Bridge of the Americas

It is a road bridge, completed in 1962, it is one of 3 other bridges connecting the continent. Two smaller bridges, one at Miraflores lock and another at Gatun Lock with the big suspension bridge - Centennial Bridge, completed in 2004

Cruising the Canal - heading westwards

The following images are the cut through the Continantal Divide

We are about the pass this freighter so we can enter the next lock before her

Sneaking past

Car Freighter - ships new vehicles from Japan

Looking back - eastwards - towards the freighter

We are entering between the arms of the lock area - looking back

The freighter heads slowly towards the lock

Tugs manouver her alongside the pier

When the ship is alongside the tugs move out of the way

At this point the ship is now taking on heavy mooring cables from the "engines" and being pulled into the lock.

Getting closer

And closer

Another smaller vessel is also going through with us

The water level has nearly reach the hight of the water on the other side of the gates

Gates open - and way goes the yacht

hout of the lock - looking backeading

Our Final Lock

Once the gates open - we are in the Pacific ocean

Leaving the Canal

Heading into the Pacific Ocean