by Laurie Cooper
From the air, it looks like any other river in Panama. From a boat, it still looks like any other river in Panama, but taking a trip through the Panama Canal is not just any other trip. The landmark that put Panama on the map was constructed and ready for operation in 1914. The French began the massive project in the late 1800s, and turned it over to the Americans sometime later because of the high death toll plaguing the Frenchmen. This transition brought a large American populace and its influence to Panama, which became home to all of the Canal workers. Upon completion of the Canal, the Americans maintained control of the Canal and continued to have a major influence in Panama. Although the Canal is now run by the country of Panama, there is still a large American presence felt in Panama, with many of the restaurants and businesses having American roots and a great portion of the Panamanian society speaking at least some English.
Cruising through the Panama Canal on a ten passenger motor boat is an experience one would not want to miss while visiting Panama. If you are lucky enough to cruise by one of the large vessels transiting the canal, you will be awed at the size of these floating warehouses. These ship passing through the canal are inexplicably enormous, but are not even the largest ones roaming the blue seas; the "big" vessels are still required to trek the extra several thousand miles around the southern tip of the Americas due to size limitations of the canal. The increasing size of ocean vessels has brought about a plan for an expansion of the Canal which will double its capacity, so that these bigger ships can take advantage of its intended purpose as do their smaller companions. This 6.2 billion dollar expansion project is estimated to take a full 20 years to complete, but will bring Panama a hefty increase in revenues once completed. The payoff to Panama once the expansion is complete will make the project well worth the wait and laborious effort put in by the Canal workers.
The most unique feature of the Canal that is not talked about very often is the fact that it is freshwater floating these boats across the tiny Isthmus of Panama. The man made Lake Gatun and the Canal connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific are filled with freshwater by rainfall and runoff from the rainforests lining the banks of the Canal. The international combination of people and products that travel through the Canal each year ensure Panama a consistent income to support its budding economy. The toll to transit the Canal and its locks is quite inexpensive for a small tourist boat and will leave you fascinated at this incredible creation found in the tiny country of Panama.
cpanama.com
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