Adventure Scrapbook – Panama Canal Zone

A journey through the Panama Canal is an amazing experience. It is one of the greatest manmade wonders of the world. Opened in 1914, the 51-mile canal cuts across Panama.  The canal shortened the sailing distance between New York and San Francisco by over 7,000 miles, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, forever changing world commerce.  More than a million ships have traveled through the intricate lock system, which consists of three sets of locks, Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores locks, which rise and lower ships and boats of all sizes from one ocean, across land to the other ocean. 

Much of what you see along the canal is industrial, but no less interesting. The magnitude of the accomplishment is simply awe-inspiring. There is also some beautiful jungle scenery and wildlife to view. We saw many birds, a few crocodiles on the Atlantic side, and a small group of coati during this amazing experience.