The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that cuts through the country of Panama in Central America. It connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Before the canal was built, ships had to sail all the way around South America. The canal saves ships thousands of miles and weeks of travel time.

How the Canal Works

The Panama Canal uses a system of locks to raise and lower ships. A lock is like a giant bathtub that fills with water or drains to change the water level. Ships enter a lock, the water level changes, and the ship moves to the next lock. It takes about 8 to 10 hours for a ship to travel through the entire canal.

Building the Canal

Building the Panama Canal was one of the hardest projects in history. Work began in 1904 and took 10 years. About 75,000 workers helped dig through mountains and jungle. Workers had to deal with tropical diseases, heavy rain, and landslides. It was finally opened to ships in 1914.

Fun Facts

• The canal is about 50 miles long. That is roughly the same length as a two-hour car ride on the highway.
• About 14,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal every year.
• Each time a ship passes through the locks, about 52 million gallons of fresh water flow into the ocean.

Did You Know?

Because of the way Panama curves, the Atlantic entrance of the canal is actually farther west than the Pacific entrance. It seems backward, but it is true!