Canal Route Therapy

It had been agreed that we'd stop at the canal on our way to Panama City.  This would save us making a trip out from Panama and would also served to give us a break from the bone jarring bus-ride we were having.  It wasn't that the roads were bad, far from it, but we had a driver who just loved going fast and changing lanes and stopping suddenly.  It was with some relief that we reached the canal for a break.

The canal is in its centenary year, having been completed in 1914.   The idea had first been considered way back in 1524 but was too difficult.  The French had then given it a couple of goes during the late 19th Century but had to abandon the attempts after more than 22,000 people had died and cost over-runs. 

The first thing that strikes you about the canal is how narrow it is.  At first it's hard to imagine a container ship fitting through - I'm sure there are plenty that wouldn't.  That's probably why they're expanding it, with additional locks being added next year. 










Luckily for us, a ship was passing through, so we joined the throngs to watch it make its progress.

The ship moves slowly but inexorably, with rail assistance, towards the lock.

Once it reaches the gates, it waits for the next lock to be filled, the water level on its own side going down at the same time.

All this (along with artificial lakes) is to make up the 26 metre discrepancy between the Pacific and Caribbean ends of the canal.






Once the water on both sides is level, the gates open and the ship moves through.  It takes a ship about 8-10 hours to move through the 77 kms of canal.

It is quite an amazing site to see.  You really get a sense of the engineering marvel that it must have been when it was first built.





The remainder of our bus trip into Panama City was a far more animated affair with everybody much more upbeat after the stop.