Panama Canal locks

The Panama Canal locks (Spanish: Esclusas del Canal de Panamá) are a lock system that lifts ships up 85 feet (26 metres) to the main elevation of the Panama Canal and down again.

Sequence of locks and passages that a vessel passes through while transiting the Panama canal
The Gatun Locks, looking north towards the Atlantic Ocean

There are two independent transit lanes, since each lock is built double. The size of the original locks limits the maximum size of ships that can transit the canal; this size is known as Panamax. Construction on the Panama Canal expansion project, which included a third set of locks, lasted from September 2007 to May 2016.[1] It opened for commercial operation on 26 June 2016. The new locks allow transit of larger, New Panamax ships, which have a greater cargo capacity than the previous locks were capable of handling.[2]

Filling and draining

Each lock chamber requires 26,700,000 US gal (101,000 m3) of water to fill it from the lowered to the raised position; the same amount of water must be drained from the chamber to lower it again.[3]

Mules

The canal's mules run on rack tracks with broad gauge, 5 ft,[4]

Map
Aerial view of Gatun Locks, Panama Canal. On top, several vessels waiting at Gatun Lake to cross the locks. At the bottom is exit canal to the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea). At the left of the existing locks, the construction area for the new set of locks with water saving chambers part of the Panama Canal expansion project which opened for traffic on June 2016.[2]
Panama Canal
km
mi
Atlantic Ocean
(Caribbean Sea)
0
 Atlantic Entrance,
Manzanillo Bay Breakwater entrance
8.7
5.4
Port of Colón (Cristóbal)
Colón, cruise terminal, MIT, Free Trade Zone, E.A. Jiménez Airport
 Cristóbal harbor,
Atlantic passenger station
Atlantic Bridge
1.9
1.2
 Gatun Locks
3 chambers, +26 m (85 ft)
 new Agua Clara Locks
(3 chambers; each with 3 water saving basins)
Gatun Dam,
Chagres River hydroelectricity (22.5 MW)[5], spillway
24.2
15.0
 Gatun Lake
Gatún River, causeway, Monte Lirio railway bridge
8.5
5.3
 Gamboa
 Chagres River,
Madden Dam, Alajuela Lake
with hydroelectricity (36 MW)[5]
12.6
7.8
 Culebra Cut
(Gaillard Cut)
Continental watershed, summit
Centennial Bridge (Pan-American Highway, via Panama City)
1.4
0.9
 Pedro Miguel Locks
1 chamber, +9.5 m (31 ft)
 new Cocoli Locks
(3 chambers; each with 3 water saving basins)
1.7
1.1
 Miraflores Lake
1.7
1.1
 Miraflores Locks
2 chambers, +16.5 m (54 ft); spillway
13.2
8.2
Port of Balboa
13.2
8.2
Port of Balboa
Diablo, Corozal passenger station, Airport, Rail terminal
 Balboa
 
total
Bridge of the Americas (Arraiján–Panama City)
77.1
47.9
 Pacific Entrance
 Pacific Ocean
(Gulf of Panama)
Legend
 Navigable canal
(maximum draft: 39.5 feet (12.0 m))
 Non-navigable water
 Dock, industrial or logistical area
 Water flow direction
 Panama Canal Railway
(passenger station, freight station)
 City, village or town

References

Inline citations
  1. "Panama Canal Expansion Project report - October 2012" (PDF). Panama Canal Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-10.(in English)
  2. "Panama Canal Opens $5B Locks, Bullish Despite Shipping Woes". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2016-06-26. Archived from the original on June 26, 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  3. Panama Canal Authority FAQ
  4. "The Panama Canal Locomotives". panamarailroad. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  5. "Hydroelectric Plants in Panama". 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2016-06-26.

General references

Media related to Panama Canal locks at Wikimedia Commons

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