Panama Canal Coast to Coast Cruise |
A main goal of our visit to Panama was to transit the Panama Canal from coast to coast, a
distance of about 50 miles (80km) on the 119 foot (36 meter) "Pacific Queen". From home,
over the internet we had bought tickets from Panama Marine Adventures at a cost of
US$155 per person including a continental breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and a bus
ride from the Caribbean port of Colon back to Panama City.
distance of about 50 miles (80km) on the 119 foot (36 meter) "Pacific Queen". From home,
over the internet we had bought tickets from Panama Marine Adventures at a cost of
US$155 per person including a continental breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and a bus
ride from the Caribbean port of Colon back to Panama City.
Departure was scheduled for 7:00am but it was about 8:00am before the ship left the dock
with its approximately 200 passengers. We cruised into the Canal, under the Bridge of the
Americas, and soon entered the Miraflores Locks at sea level, carefully towed by two
electric locomotives on each side. Water then flowed into the first set of locks, bringing
the water level to that of the second set; our ship went into the second set of locks and the
water level was then raised, elevating the ship a total of 54 feet (16.5 meters).
with its approximately 200 passengers. We cruised into the Canal, under the Bridge of the
Americas, and soon entered the Miraflores Locks at sea level, carefully towed by two
electric locomotives on each side. Water then flowed into the first set of locks, bringing
the water level to that of the second set; our ship went into the second set of locks and the
water level was then raised, elevating the ship a total of 54 feet (16.5 meters).
A short time later we came to the Pedro Miguel Locks, where in one step our vessel was
raised an additional 31 feet (9.5 meters). Then came the Gaillard (Culebra) Cut, where the
Canal was dug through Panama's Continental Divide.
raised an additional 31 feet (9.5 meters). Then came the Gaillard (Culebra) Cut, where the
Canal was dug through Panama's Continental Divide.
We then went under the very modernistic Puente Centenario bridge and crossed Gatun Lake,
a large artificial lake 85 feet (26 meters) above sea level. The lake was formed by building
a huge earthen dam (the largest in the world at time of construction) to dam the Chagres
River, Water piped from Gatun Lake by gravity provides all the water needed to operate
the Canal and to generate all the needed electricity.
a large artificial lake 85 feet (26 meters) above sea level. The lake was formed by building
a huge earthen dam (the largest in the world at time of construction) to dam the Chagres
River, Water piped from Gatun Lake by gravity provides all the water needed to operate
the Canal and to generate all the needed electricity.
At the northern end of Gatun Lake the "Pacific Queen" was lowered 85 feet (26 meters) by
the Gatun Locks, down to sea level.
the Gatun Locks, down to sea level.
The Panama Canal is an engineering marvel created about a hundred years ago (1904 to
1914) and little changed since then. Cruising coast to coast on the Panama Canal was a
wonderful experience.
Construction has begun on widening the canal's channels and building new sets of locks with
longer and wider chambers to permit the passage of much larger ships.
1914) and little changed since then. Cruising coast to coast on the Panama Canal was a
wonderful experience.
Construction has begun on widening the canal's channels and building new sets of locks with
longer and wider chambers to permit the passage of much larger ships.
While while crossing the continent by the Panama Canal we saw a great variety of other
vessels going through, mostly container ships but also some car carriers, tankers, tugs, and
pleasure yachts.
vessels going through, mostly container ships but also some car carriers, tankers, tugs, and
pleasure yachts.
At about 6:00pm the "Pacific Queen" docked in Colon, at the Caribbean end of the Canal.
What we saw of Colon reflected poverty and neglect, contrasting sharply with Panama City,
to which we returned by bus in about an hour and a half.
What we saw of Colon reflected poverty and neglect, contrasting sharply with Panama City,
to which we returned by bus in about an hour and a half.
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Vessel entering the Miraflores Locks.
Partial view of the Panama Canal
including the Miraflores Locks.
including the Miraflores Locks.
A partially open Panama Canal lock.
A closed Panama Canal lock. In the foreground is a
motorized "mule" used to tow ships through the locks.
motorized "mule" used to tow ships through the locks.
A vessel with refrigerated containers in the Canal.
A container ship in the Panama Canal.
All the photos below were taken by Virginia on our Panamanian trip: some during the cruise,
some when flying over the Canal, and others during our visit to the Miraflores Locks.
some when flying over the Canal, and others during our visit to the Miraflores Locks.
The diagram below shows the route and locks of the Panama Canal. Gatun Dam controls the
flow of excess water from Lake Gatun into the Atlantic. The Madden Dam regulates the
flow of the Chagres River into Lake Gatun. Although not identified on the map, Colon is at
the Atlantic end of the Canal and Panama City at the Pacific end.
flow of excess water from Lake Gatun into the Atlantic. The Madden Dam regulates the
flow of the Chagres River into Lake Gatun. Although not identified on the map, Colon is at
the Atlantic end of the Canal and Panama City at the Pacific end.
Central Colon, Republic of Panama