Simple in conception, monumental in scale, and a work of genius in design and construction, the Panama Canal is a supreme triumph of humanity over nature. The largest and most costly human endeavour ever mounted to its day, the canal fulfilled a dream dating back to Balboa’s first sighting of the Pacific in 1513. Its completion cut the days off the sea passage around the Horn and elevated the nation to a position of supreme strategic importance. Today ships of every shape and size transit 247, maintaining a passage that has operated flawlessly for almost a century.

The canal runs through Panama north to south, connecting the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Approximately 80 miles long, it features three sets of locks, each with twin chambers side by side.