PANAMA
It is an inter-oceanic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama...
by Manpreet

The Panama Canal and Suez Canal are the two most important man-made waterways of the world. Panama Canal is more important than Suez Canal. It is an inter-oceanic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama. Its length is about 82km (51 miles). It is owned and operated by United States.

The Canal consist of short sea-level section at each end, three pairs of locks that lift ships to 26 metres above sea level, a 32 mile elevated section that includes Gatun Lake and a narrow eight-mile long excavated channel known as Gaillard Cut, running through the continental divide.

The dimensions of its lock chambers (1000 ft. in length, 110 ft. in width and 41ft. in depth) permit most commercial ships as well as main navy ships to pass through the canal. Only very big ships cannot pass.

The canal has helped to reduce the travelling from the ships. The ships sailing between the east and west coasts of United States shorten their journey by about 8000 nautical miles by using the canal. Without it they would otherwise be obliged to go round the Cape Horn. From one coast of North America to ports on the other side of the South America, the distance had been shortened by 3500 miles. Ships sailing between Europe and East Asia or Australia save about 2000 miles by using the canal.

The canal locks operate by gravity flow of water from Gatun and Madden lakes. The locks are of Uniform length, width and depth and permit simultaneous transit of ships in either direction. Each lock gate has two leaves, 65 ft. wide and 7ft. thick, set on hinges. The gates range in height from 47 to 82ft. Motors control their movements. They are operated from a control tower.

Once a ship has been authorized to proceed, the average transit time through the canal, however, is seven to eight hours in the deep water. The traffic through the Panama Canal has risen from 807 transits in 1916 to 15523 transits in 1970. The cargo carried in 1970 amounted 132,500,000 tons. The Panama Canal company is the corporate agency created by U.S. Congress to maintain and operate the canal as well as to conduct business.

The history of the Panama Canal construction is very interesting. In the 16^th century the Spanish conceived the idea of constructing a canal across the Isthmus. In 1846 the United States concluded a treaty with Columbia. In 1855 the United States extended financial interest for the project. Panama Canal company was formed which was headed by Ferdinande Lesseps- the builder of the Suez Canal. However, within ten years, due to faulty planning, graft and the ravages of yellow fever, malaria and cholera, the company became bankrupt. In 1894 the New Panama Canal company reorganised the work but made little progress due to lack of money. Following Panama’s declaration of Independence from Columbia in 1903 and the conclusion of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty between the U.S.A and Panama in that year, Canal building rights passed into the U.S. hands. Work began in 1904 and finally the canal was first opened to traffic on August 1914. Since then many additions have been made.

In view of the increasing size of bulk carriers and of container ships, and the ability of the present canal to accommodate the large aircraft carriers of the U.S., there have been proposals to expand the present waterway.