11 Facts about the Panama Canal
1. The canal is not just a “path” of water bewteen the two oceans. There are a series of 6 locks in two parallel tracks that raise and lower ships between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
2. The locks had to be built because of the terrain. The highest point is 85 feet above sea level.
3. The canal runs North and South, not East and West.
4. The locks are about 1000 feet long, so ships must be shorter than that to pass through. Many ships are built specifically to fit the Panama Canal. A new canal is being built to accomidate larger ships.
5. Ships do not simply sail through the canal. They idle through while they are guided by electricity-powered “mules” attached to the ship with cables.
6. A ship like ours pays over $200K in cash, well in advance, to enter the canal. You pay the same amount whether you go through from one side to the other other or turn around in the middle.
7. The canal is self-powered. Three dams produce electricity to power the mules, lights and other equipment.
8. There are no pumps on the canals. Valves allow water to pass from the higher elevations to the lower ones by power of gravity. The water accumulates in man-made lakes produced from tremendous amounts of rainfall.
9. The canal was completed in 1913 by the United States after France failed twice at getting it built. We controlled it until 1999.
10. Nine military bases we contructed around the base. They were all vacated by 1999. Many of them are deteriorating.
11. “A man, a plan, a canal – Panama” is rather long palindrome. Gen. John Stevens was the man with the plan.
March 15th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Very good, Jeff. Shows you paid attention in class. ;
Fact# 12-There is a geocache situated at The Gatun Locks.
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
cool work but can you tell us who built the canal?
July 21st, 2007 at 1:27 am
I am preparing a short book on PANAMA CANAL in my language (TAMIL). I will be happy if u could refer some of the books on the subject. thanks. take care..
December 13th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
this website was very helpful for my collegge essay
March 6th, 2008 at 11:32 am
sweet web facts Jeff!!=]
April 8th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I would like to see some interesting facts that will help me with my report. : )
May 8th, 2008 at 11:25 am
yo wats gud
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
I have a commemorative medal, (brass I think ?) dated 1913 saying it was one of 50,000 carried through the panama canal on the first ship; I,d like to find out it,s value It is numbered 4885. thank you d.ogle73@yahoo.com
November 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
cool facts
November 14th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
yo man, tight facts!got to fly. bye!
November 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
thanks for helping me withmy class work. you were a big help
November 14th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Hey do you happen to know how much dirt was moved in the making of the canal? and hi i dont know you! :p
November 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
hey nice facts but can you tell a little more about the canal today
but the facts that you had allready helped me with my project
THX
November 19th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
hey claire do you go to SDHS in callafornia
o yea your facts are sweet :0
November 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
how old r you Ben
November 19th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
well becuase im 16
November 19th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
im 18 :]
November 19th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
ok no way
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:37 pm
you spelled between wrong in your first fact.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
hey thankyou
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
panama canal is HAUNTED!!!!!!
March 11th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
helped alot on my project
November 19th, 2010 at 2:31 am
thanks you helped me cheat on my e=final exam
March 15th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
ThaT helped me with my eleven facts for class at purdue
March 15th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Can you make more cause i need 100 facts about that
March 15th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
You tight