The Panama Canal allows ships to pass through south America to Central America or vice versa.
The "mules" or locomotives are used to pull ships through the Panama Canal. Each "mule" weighs 50 tons and operates with two 290 horsepower units.
built for ships to pass through
specially-trained qualified Panama Canal pilots give the steering orders on ships going through the canal, supplanting the vessel"s captain or Officer of the Deck- the deck officer normally giving the Conning orders.
Ships traveling from Balboa to Colon in Panama cross through one set of locks at the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal has a system of locks that raise and lower ships to the level of Gatun Lake, which is then crossed to reach the other set of locks at the other end of the canal.
Gatun Lake
Panama. It moves ships across Panama.
Since the Panama Canal opened about 100 years ago in 1914, well over 800,000 ships have passed through it. Most of the ships are traveling from the east coast of the United States to the Far East.
The locks
Panama Canal Locks which facilitates the crossing of the canal itself by ships .
The Panama Canal opened in 1914.
so ships and boats have an easier route to get through the Americas .