The Panama Canal and the Suez Canal are the two most important man-made waterways of the world. The Panama Canal is an inter-oceanic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama. Ships sailing between the east and west coasts of the United States shorten their journey by about 8000 nautical miles by using this canal!
The history of the Panama Canal construction is very interesting. In the 16th 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 help for the project. The 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 reorganized 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 USA and Panama the canal building rights passed into U.S. hands. Work began in 1904 and finally the Canal was completed and first opened to traffic in August 1914. Since then many additions have been made. Its length is about 82 km. On 31st December 1999, Panama will take over full control of the canal from US.
The Canal consists of short sea-level sections at each end, three pairs of locks that lift ships to 26m 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 41 ft 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 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 7 ft thick, set on hinges. The gates range in height from 47 to 82 ft. Their movements are controlled by motors. They are operated by a control tower.
The ships, including the waiting time, require 15 hours to negotiate the canal. Once a ship has been authorized to proceed, the average transit time through the canal, however, is seven to eight hours in deep water. The traffic through the Panama Canal has raised from 807 transits in 1916 to 15,523 transits in 1970. The cargo carried in 1970 amounted to 132,500,000 tons. Presently, average transits of ships carrying goods have been increased manifoldly.
The Canal has helped to reduce greatly the travelling distance for ships. Ships no longer need to go around Cape Horn to go from the east to the west coast of America. From one coast of North America to ports on the other side of South America, the distance has been shortened by 3500 miles. Ships sailing between Europe and East Asia or Australia save about 2000 miles by using the canal.
In view of the increasing size of bulk carriers and container ships and the inability of the present canal to accommodate the large aircraft carriers of the U.S., there have been proposals to expand the present waterway.