Panama Canal locks, Panama City

The Panama Canal locks are a feat of engineering and a pivotal component of the 82-kilometer waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Located in Panama City, Panama, these locks function as water elevators, raising and lowering ships through the canal's three stages: the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, and Gatun Locks.

Constructed between 1904 and 1914, the Panama Canal locks are essential for international maritime trade, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy and hazardous Cape Horn route at the southern tip of South America. The locks operate by using gravity to fill and empty massive chambers with water, accommodating vessels known as Panamax, which are specifically designed to pass through the canal's dimensions.

The lock system is a marvel of modern engineering, with each lock chamber measuring 33.53 meters in width and 304.8 meters in length. The entire process of a ship passing through the locks takes approximately 8-10 hours, with the actual transit through the locks taking 30 minutes per lock.

The Panama Canal locks were expanded with the 2016 inauguration of the new set of locks, known as the Panama Canal Expansion Project or "Third Set of Locks Project." This expansion added new lanes of traffic and allowed for the passage of New Panamax vessels, which are significantly larger than the original Panamax ships.

As a critical artery in global shipping, the Panama Canal locks are not only an engineering wonder but also a significant tourist attraction. Visitors can witness the intricate operation of the locks and the passage of massive ships up close, making it a unique experience and a must-see destination in Panama City.

The locks are open year-round, providing educational tours and observation platforms from which tourists can appreciate the grand scale of this man-made marvel. The Miraflores Visitor Center offers a particularly good vantage point, complete with a museum and a restaurant where one can watch the ships as they make their way through the locks.