Panama Canal Transit - south to north sailing
It was on a voyage from Santaigo in, Chile, South America to Boston, USA on the cruise ship, Norwegian Dream.
As I had written a book set on the Leeds/Liverpool canal, I really wanted to experience a mega-canal.
It was a fantastic experience.
Here are a few of my photos.
Pan-continental Highway to Panama City
Gateway to the Panama canal from the Pacific OceanIt's a real Sydney Harbour Bridge look-alike.
It carries the Pan-Continental Highway which runs from north to South America.
Panama canal - approaching Miraflores
The man in rowing boat is carrying one of the cables which will be connected to the 'mules' to assist the ship through the locks. Miraflores Locks - Panama Canal
Each of the three sets of locks on the Panama canal have two lanes.The tallest and heaviest of the miter gates are at the southern etrance of the Miraflores Locks.
They were designed to Handle the Pacific Ocean's extreme tide fluctuations.
A "mule" on the canal's towpath
There are numerous 'mules' which tow, control and align each ship as it transits the canal.These electric locomotives work in pairs and run on tracks alongside the lock.
Some vessels require 4 - 8 locomotives to control it.
Entering Panama's Miraflores Lock from the southern end of the canal
The Miraflores Lock (2-step) is at the southern end of the canal.The Panama Canal was opened in 1914.
It is 80 km long and is aligned in a north south direction across the isthmus of Panama.
Visitors to Panama attracted to canal
Anyone visiting Panama City enjoys a visit to the Canal to watch the ships locking through.It's a bit hard to see on thiis pic but there are hundreds of people on the top of the building.
Vessels are toe to tail in the Panama Canal
The locks are filled with fresh water from the rivers of the watershed.It would be too expenside to pump water from the sea.
Cable connected to back of ship and controlled by 'mules'
Can you see the cable running from the back of the ship and connected to the two locos?They are amazing little 'creatures'.
Waiting in the chamber for the lock to fill
Ahead is the Miraflores Lake and only a few kilometers from the Pedro Miguel Lock. The second lock - Pedro Miguel - Panama Canal
Not far from the Miraflores (2 chambers) lock is the Pedro Miguel lock.This is a single lock.
This step takes the ship to the height of the cut and the Gatun Lake which is 26 meters above sea level.
Filling the lock chamber
Approximately 197 millions litres of fresh water is used for each lockage.Ultimately the water is flushed into the sea.
It's amazing how quickly the water pours in.
You can watch the level rising.
The Gaillard or Culebra Cut - Panama Canal
The Panama Canal was in part cut through solid rock as you can see.Apart from combatting disease in the early days, this area was one of the biggest obstacles t the canal builders.
This is the narrowest stretch of the Panama canal.
It runs for 12.6 km and represents 15% of the total length.
The area cut from Pedro Miguel to Gamboa is the Continental Divide.
New section of canal and new locks being dug in Panama
Widening and dredging continue on the canal but already there are plans for new locks.A new three-step lock with watersaving basins are to be contructed with a new section of cut at the southern end of the canal.
And a three-step lock also with watersaving basins will be built between the Gatun Lake and the Atlanic in the north.
Passing the Serenade of the Seas on the Panama Canal
Most of the cruise ship traffic on the Panama Canal is between the western seaboard of the USA and the Caribbean.World cruises use the canal occasionally and cruising vessels repositioning between the northern and southern hemisphere.
Bigger locks are essential for the mega cruise liners which are now being launched.
Chagres River, Gamboa, Panama
The Chagres River which flows down from the Alhajuela Lake and Dam joins the cut at Gamboa.We passed this tributary about midway through the transit.
The Gatun Lake, Panama is part of the canal- And the container ships are huge
... and getting bigger.When the new locks are completed in 2014 it will allow transit of post-panamax vessels capable of carrying 12,000 containers.
On the Panama Canal approaching the Gatun Locks
These locks are at the northern end of the canal and are the exit to the Altantic (Caribbean) from the Gatun Lake. Leaving the Gatun Locks
Behind me is the huge Gatun Lake which represents about half the length of the canal.Ships anchor here waiting their turn to lock out.
An empty chamber - Panama Canal
As the water is pumped out the level drops to that of the Caribbean on the other side of the gate.From my stateroom window I can only see the stone walls of the lock.
The gates are 25 meters tall.
Leaving the second last chamber
Lock chambers are 33.5 meters wide and 305 meters long with a draft of 12.04 meters (fresh water).Maximum dimensions for shipping is: Beam - 32.31 meters.
That leaves a difference of only 1.19 meters - a tight squeeze.
All lock gates are double for protection
There are 40 pairs of miter gates which all date back to the canals construction 100 years ago.The gates are removed for servicing every 10 - 15 years
Each one weighs 730 tons.
The Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day
Looking back to the Gatun Lake.With the lighting at the locks and along the cut the Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day.
Exiting Panama Canal heading north into the Caribbean
It takes a full day to transit the Panama Canal.It's an unforgetable experience!
Unusual railways - funicular, cable, Abt and a chain ferry
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Funicular, Abt, chain ferry, cable cars and other unusual railways
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Funicular railways date back to 1515 but were most popular in late 1800s. The Abt rack and pinion railway system was built to combat very steep inclines. The underwater Chain ferry pulled a vehicular ferry across a river. Around the world...
I'm also here in cyberspace...
- Margaret Muir author - blogspot
- My blog has interesting bits of all sorts
- Margaret Muir - Author - website
- Has a CONTACT ME page
Join me as I travel around the world
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Italy, Greek Islands, French Riviera - Cruising the Med
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Join me on a cruise ship sailing around the Mediterranean. Starting with the sights and sounds of Rome, to Florence and Pisa. The French Riviera. Monaco. Scicily then on to the Greek Islands - Santorini, Mykanos. Travelling by cruishe ship is a great...
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Buenos Aires, Argentina - the tango, the pampas and much more
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A city of seduction. The tango - danced originally by men. The steaks - dinasaur size. The places to visit - unforgettable. The people - past and present. And plenty of pics. THE CONDOR'S FEATHER - an equestrian adventure set in Southern Patagonia in 1885....
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VISIT MY TASMANIA - the island of inspiration
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Two years ago I visited Tasmania for a holiday and fell in love with the place. Two months later I came back to stay. Not only is it a beautiful island, with huge wilderness areas, spectacular scenery and the cleanest air in the world (true), but it...
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Antarctica - Tierra del Fuego to the Antarctic Peninsula
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It's a blue and white world at the bottom of the globe. And its cold! I was fortunate enough to cruise around a little of it recently, my voyage starting in Valpariso, Chile - sailing down the Chilean Fjords to Tierra del Fuego, across Drake Pass...
My tall ship adventures
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TALL SHIPS - 'Mary Rose' & 'Victory' to the modern day
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When I visited the Royal Naval Dockyards in Portsmouth I was blown to pieces by the tall (historic) ships I visited. Imagine walking the decks on Nelson's 'Victory' and standing at the very spot on the deck where he fell!! Imagine step...
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SAIL ON A TALL SHIP - live the adventure
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It was a voyage to remember. I joined the replica LADY NELSON as she headed out into the notorious Bass Strait then sailed south to meet four meter swells on Storm Bay. In 1800 the original wooden colonial brig, was the first vessel to sail Bass Stra...
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Sailing the Atlantic on a Tall Ship
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What a voyage! - Join me as I sail across the North Atlantic following in the wake of the great adventurer's. Pass the Pillars of Hercules. See the house Columbus lived in. Meet King Neptune. Face gale force winds. Take the helm....
Goats and Newfoundland dogs plus kids (writing)
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Goats - angoras, Boers, cashmeres, dairys and even ferals
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I ran goats of one variety or another for 17 years during which time I wrote numerous magazine articles about them, including many which appeared in the New Zealand 'Goat Farmer' magazine. ANGORAS, BOERS, CASHMERES, DAIRYS and even FE...
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Writers' Camp - in the far south wilderness
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Tasmania is called the 'Island of Inspiration' and what better place to hold a writers' camp than in the south west wilderness forest on the banks of the Esperance River where the only ripples are created by the salmon jumping. It wa...
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NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS - 'beauty without vanity...'
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He is not trained to be noble and loyal - it is just part of his nature. And few dog breeds can equal the Newfoundland for courage. From the sinking of the Titanic to rescuing Napoleon, to heroism and death in the face of modern warfare; to the classic...
Matthew Brady - the gentleman bushranger
Matthew Brady was transported to Van Diemen's land on the fully rigged convict transport ship - 'Juliana' (Captain Ogilvie) in 1820.When the vessel returned to England in 1821 she offloaded her passengers, including the Captain's wife, and took shelter in the Downs. But a storm blew up and dashed her on the rocks. Captain Ogilvie and his crew perished.
Matthew Brady also sailed to Macquarie harbour on a smaller vessel, sailed back to Hobart in a stolen whaleboat, and when finally captured near Launceston, was transported by sea around the east coast of Tasmania.
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Matthew Brady - Tasmania's 'gentleman' bushranger
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Matthew Brady was just 20 when he was transported to Van Diemen's Land. Six years later he was hung from the gallows in Hobart Town. But what was it about Brady which endeared women to him so much that his trial had to be interrupted because of th...
Historical novels by Margaret Muir
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The Twisting Vine - historical novel and hints on writing a book
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THE TWISTING VINE is a saga set in Yorkshire in 1898 where times of peace and war, grief and joy are linked by the unobtrusive presence of a French Bru doll. If you have an interest in Antique French Fashion dolls or just enjoy a fast moving sto...
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The Condor's Feather - the pampas of Patagonia on horseback
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Mobs of wild horses, pampas winds, Tehuelche Indians, and mountain lions are just a few of the problems awaiting this unsuspecting group of English riders. Add to that four escaped convicts whose diabolical deeds defy comprehension..... It's said...
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The Black Thread by Margaret Muir - canal story set 1895
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British canals are steeped in history. Having been superceded by the railways in the late 1800s they fell into disrepair. But today they are modern and attractive and offer a popular and relaxing form of travel. The Black Thread, is my third no...
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'Sea Dust' - dramatic story set on a tall ship
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In order to escape the clutches of a drunken husband, Emma stows away on a sailing ship bound for Australia. Despite the help of a French sailor, nothing can protect her from the diabolical evil which lurks on board. Set in 1856 in Whitby, Cape Town...
THE CONDOR'S FEATHER by Margaret Muir - a novel set in Patagonia
My latest novel is an equestrian adventure set on the pampas of Patagonia in 1885It was inspired by my two visits to South America
THE CONDOR'S FEATHER is due July 2009.
To order at a BIG discount price and with FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY go to:
THE BOOK DEPOSITORYis an on-line bookshop which not only gives discount prices but provides Free Worldwide Delivery.
Also on-line with discount at Waterstones or from Amazon UK.
Have you sailed through Panama or would you like to?
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Reply
- throughglasseyes throughglasseyes Dec 6, 2008 @ 8:54 pm | in reply to MindGuru
- Thanks for taking time to comment.
Marg
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Reply
- MindGuru MindGuru Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
- Thanks for the informative, interesting lens!
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Reply
- MindGuru MindGuru Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
- Thanks for the informative, interesting lens!
by throughglasseyes
Hi, my name's Margaret Muir. I'm an author and I live in Tasmania (Au). I enjoy writing and have had four novels published. I also love tall ships and...
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