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*It is a ship canal in Panama, that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
*The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama
and is a key conduit for international maritime trade
Outline
* Location
* History
* Facts and Figures
*Construction
*How the Canal Works
Location
Located in the narrowest part of the American continent and the lowest
region of the Panamanian isthmus
History
* It was built by the United States of America from 1904 to 1914
and
is still one of the most amazing engineering marvels of the world.
*France began work on the canal in 1881, but had to stop because of
engineering problems and high mortality due to disease. The United
States took over the project in 1904, and took a decade to complete
the canal, which was officially opened on August 15, 1914. One of
the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken
Facts and Figures
.* construction began 1904
* Opened Aug. 15, 1914
.* 80 km, long deep water to deep water
.* Average depth (13.1 m ) 43 feet
* Width varies between (152 to 304.8) 500 to 1000 feet.
* 14000 vessels pass every year
* Average of 8 to 10 hour journey
Travel time from NYC to San Francisco 9700 km compared to
.1123000 km taking route around Cape Hornhttps://www.google.com/maps/@15.3354641,-89.8553775,1121534m/data=!3m1!1e3
* The Canal provides easy and reliable crossings from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and back for more than 750 thousands vessels. Ships all
over the world are built to fit the three sets of double locks that are part
of this 80 Km (50 mi) long water way, .which can be visited any time
Construction
*There are locks at each end to lift ships up to Gatun Lake,
*An artificial lake created to reduce the amount of excavation work
required for the canal, 26 m above sea level.
*The current locks are 33.5 m (110 ft) wide. A third, wider lane of
locks is currently under construction and is due to open in 2016.
How the Canal Works
Gatun DamConstructed 1907-1913
Impounds Gatun Lake
*Hydro-electric generating station generates electricity
*Electricity used to operate the locks and other equipment in the canal
How Locks Work/Design* Three sets of the two lane Canal work as water elevators to lift the ships to the level of the Gatun Lake
* Set of lanes can accommodate traffic on opposite or same direction
* No pumps used to lift the ships, the work is done by a force of gravity
* Later lower the ships back to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus of Panama
* Electric locomotive on the side provides complete control of movement of vessels
* All operations accomplished from a control house built on the center wall of the upper lock chamber.
* Single person can run every operation in the passage of the ship except for the towing
Advantage
* the Panama Canal shortcut greatly reduced the time for ships to
travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
*The shorter, faster, and safer route to the U.S. West Coast and to
nations in and around the Pacific Ocean allowed those places
to become more integrated with the world economy.
* It takes between 8 and 10 hours to go through the Panama Canal.
