PANAMA
Panama Canal
Atlantic to Pacific - Colon to Balboa/Panama City - on the motor yacht
Wind Star
Entrance from the Atlantic Ocean to the Panama Canal at Colon.
Ahead is the new Atlantic Bridge under construction.
"Atlantic Bridge" under construction at Colon, Panama.
The first bridge to be built across the canal on the Atlantic side (2 bridges exist on the Pacific side).
Approaching the first locks from the Atlantic side.
These Gatun Locks are a set of 3 which raise the water level a total of 26 m, into the 24 km long artificial Gatun Lake
(formed by the damming of the Chagres River nearby).
Entering the first Gatun lock
On each side of the ship the "Mitsubishi Mules" keep the ship from touching the sides of the lock
About to leave the first Gatun Lock after the water level has been raised about 8 metres
Leaving the last of the Gatun Locks for the Gatun Lake
Gatun Lake, Panama Canal
There are many small islands in the lake, some of which we have explored
Leaving the lake, and a short distance along the Chagres River where it enters the lake,
we sail the 8 km of the Culebra Cut, passing under the 2004 Centennial Bridge, towards the single Pedro Miguel Lock
Pedro Miguel Lock, Panama Canal (the 2 Miraflores locks are ahead in the background)
In the foreground: we are on the ship Wind Star in the Miraflores locks. In the building background: tourists come for a day trip to watch action in the canal
Ahead of our ship are a different set of canal tourists passing through the final lock at Miraflores,
having descended 26 metres from the Gatun Lake
The final canal landmark as we approach the Pacific Ocean is the 1962 Bridge of the Americas